Several people were injured when a car struck revelers in a parade celebrating the Lao New Year on Saturday in rural Louisiana, authorities said.
A video shared on social media showed several people on the ground at the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia. Videos showed firefighters helping a person trapped under the car, which ended up in a ditch along the parade route.
About 15 people were injured, some in serious condition, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office. The driver was in police custody.
“Based on the initial investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Rebecca Melancon said.
Acadian Ambulance, a private ambulance company, said on social media that it responded to the emergency around 2:30 p.m. and sent 10 ambulances and a helicopter to assist the injured. She added that two patients were airlifted.
The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration in Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia that is home to hundreds of families, and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammaratanaram. It features Southeast Asian cuisine, live music, parades and other family-friendly activities that attract thousands each year.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued a statement about the incident. “Sharon and I are praying for everyone affected, and are grateful to the first responders who responded to the scene,” he said.