Vehicle hits crowd at New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, injuring at least 12 - media

 

REUTERS - A vehicle plowed into a crowd watching a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Saturday, critically injuring at least 12 people, police told local media.

 

The number of people injured during the Krewe of Endymion parade could increase, according to a report in NOLA.com.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-26

Drunken driver injures 28 at New Orleans Mardi Gras parade

 

A vehicle is seen crashed along the Endymion parade route at Orleans and Carollton during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana U.S., February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

 

REUTERS - A pickup truck driven by a man who appeared to be "highly intoxicated" plowed into a crowd of spectators watching the main Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Saturday, sending more than 20 people to the hospital, police said.

The truck, traveling along the side of the street open to traffic along the Mid-City parade route, struck three other vehicles, including a dump truck, before veering onto the median where a crowd of people stood watching the procession, according to New Orleans police.

Police immediately apprehended the pickup driver, who according to eyewitnesses interviewed by Fox television affiliate WVEU-TV appeared disheveled, glassy-eyed and under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Video footage from the scene showed pandemonium immediately following the early evening incident, but the Krewe of Endymion parade, the largest and most popular of numerous Mardi Gras season parades in New Orleans, continued with little or no interruption.

A total of 28 people were injured, 21 of whom were taken to a local hospital, including one police officer. Seven others who were hurt declined transport, Police Chief Michael Harrison told a news conference.

Local media reports said 12 people were initially listed as critically injured.

Harrison said police believed the motorist who was arrested was "highly intoxicated" and was being questioned at the police department's drunken-driving office.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Orleans said its agents were "coordinating with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to determine whether a federal violation has occurred."

The Endymion parade incident was not the only one to mar Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans on Saturday. Earlier in the day, someone's gun went off accidentally in a portable toilet along the route of another, smaller parade, leaving one person wounded, police said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-26

 

7 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Earlier in the day, someone's gun went off accidentally in a portable toilet along the route of another, smaller parade, leaving one person wounded, police said

If this had been in the Thai news forum the thread would be 100 pages long by now.

4 hours ago, ballpoint said:

If this had been in the Thai news forum the thread would be 100 pages long by now.

But when things like this happen in other parts of the world including Thailand it doesn't make the last page of the news in the US, unless its a terrorist attack. Very normal to comment on events happening where you live.

1 hour ago, Grubster said:

But when things like this happen in other parts of the world including Thailand it doesn't make the last page of the news in the US, unless its a terrorist attack. Very normal to comment on events happening where you live.

I was refering to the part I specifically quoted; the gun accidently going off in a portable toilet.  Imagine all the "they" lack... "they" can't... "they" don't... posts if it was a Thai involved.  Surprising that it doesn't happen here though. Armed toilet user reaching for the bum gun and grabbing the wrong one.  Clean as a whistle...