Man arrested for impaired driving after driving car into Louisiana crowd

April 4 (Reuters) – Louisiana police have arrested a man for impaired driving after his car slammed into a crowd during a community parade on Saturday, injuring several people, some critically.

Louisiana State Police said they arrested Todd Landry, 57, and charged him with driving while impaired, 18 counts of first-degree negligent injuring and careless operation following the incident in New Iberia, Louisiana.

He is also accused of having an open container with an alcoholic beverage in the vehicle.

The incident occurred during a Lao New Year celebration, the Louisiana State Police said in a statement. 

“Multiple pedestrians” were struck by the vehicle as Landry drove it, police said.

Earlier, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office said at least 15 people had been injured.

Landry showed signs of impairment, and a breath sample showed he had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.137%, police said. The legal BAC limit for drivers in most U.S. states is 0.08%. 

Reuters could not determine if Landry had a lawyer.

Acadian Ambulance posted on social media that it transported 13 people to the hospital. Two of them were airlifted, the ambulance service wrote on X. 

Organizers of the Louisiana Lao New Year Festival said on Facebook they were cancelling Saturday evening’s music concerts, as well as alcohol sales. 

“We are profoundly saddened by the news of the incident near the festival grounds,” the organizers said on Facebook. “We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time.”

The three-day festival held every Easter weekend includes live music, parades and other activities celebrating the Lao New Year.

(Reporting by Noel Randewich in San Francisco; Editing by Sergio Non, Matthew Lewis and Kevin Buckland)