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Vehicle crashes into Louisiana Lao New Year parade crowd, injuring about 15

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Updated  April 4, 2026 10:09pm EDT
Louisiana
FOX Local
article

FILE - Crime scene tape.  (ANDRI TAMBUNAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • A vehicle struck people attending a Lao New Year parade in rural Louisiana, injuring around 15 individuals, some seriously, during the annual celebration.
    • Authorities arrested a 57-year-old driver at the scene, who was later found to have a high blood alcohol level and was charged with multiple offenses including impaired driving.
    • Emergency responders, including ambulances and a helicopter, treated victims at the scene and transported the injured, while officials and event organizers expressed concern and support for those affected.

Authorities said several people were injured Saturday in rural Louisiana when a vehicle hit people celebrating the Lao New Year at a parade.

The driver was quickly arrested and charged with impaired driving, police said.

Dig deeper:

Video shared on social media showed multiple people on the ground at the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia. The videos showed firefighters tending to one person trapped beneath the car, which wound up in a ditch along the parade route.

Around 15 people were hurt, some seriously, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office. The driver was in police custody.

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 aid the injured. Two patients were airlifted, it said.

The Louisiana State Police said the driver, who is 57 and lived in Jeanerette, appeared impaired when police arrived and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. He was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

What they're saying:

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement about the incident. "Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene," he said.

The festival's organizers issued a statement on Facebook saying they were "profoundly saddened" by the incident.

"We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time," it said.

The backstory:

The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration set in the Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia with hundreds of families, and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram.

It features Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade and other family-friendly activities attracting thousands each year.

The Source: The information in this story comes from local authorities, including the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office and its spokesperson, as well as emergency response details shared by Acadian Ambulance. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

Louisiana