Impaired driver injures 15 at Lao New Year parade in Louisiana
Impaired driver injures 15 at Lao New Year parade in Louisiana
A suspected impaired driver plowed into a Lao New Year parade in rural Louisiana, injuring at least 15 and prompting air ambulances to rush victims to hospital.
A vehicle plowed into a Lao New Year festival parade in rural Louisiana, injuring at least 15 people as revelers celebrated Songkran. Emergency crews arrived quickly, and two victims were airlifted to local hospitals for treatment. The driver is described as allegedly impaired, and authorities have not released charges as the investigation continues.
responders worked to secure the scene and assess the injured, with additional patients transported to nearby medical facilities. Local hospitals reported a mix of injuries, and conditions of the victims were not immediately released.
Officials said the incident is under active investigation and are seeking witnesses and surveillance footage to determine how the vehicle entered the parade route. There were no confirmed reports of fatalities at the time of the latest updates, and community members expressed concern and support for those affected.
The Lao New Year celebration, a cultural festival also known as Songkran in some communities, drew attendees from across the region. Authorities emphasized safety at future events and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
Ongoing updates are expected as investigators piece together the sequence of events and identify how the vehicle came to strike the parade.
