Driver arrested after plowing truck into New Orleans Mardi Gras parade leaving 28 injured and 5 critical - including young children
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- 28 people were injured when a truck plowed into people in New Orleans at the largest parade of Mardi Gras
- Five are considered to be in critical condition, 21 were hospitalized and seven declined medical treatment
- A three-year-old boy was injured but is in stable condition. The oldest person injured was in their forties
- The crash happened at the corner of Orleans and N. Carrollton avenues during the Endymion Parade
- Authorities say the 26-year-old driver appears to have been 'highly intoxicated' and was arrested at the scene
- Police say there's no evidence to suspect terrorism and it appears to be a drunk driving incident
At least 28 people have been injured when a truck plowed into party-goers at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.
The crash happened at the corner of Orleans and N. Carrollton avenues at around 6.45pm during the Endymion Parade.
NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said there is no evidence to suspect this is terrorism and that the 26-year-old driver appeared 'highly intoxicated'.
Victims' ages range from age three to their early forties, according to the New Orleans Advocate. In total, 21 were taken to seven different hospitals throughout the city and five are in critical condition. Seven declined treatment.
Valerie, a witness, told DailyMail.com she managed to pull a young boy from a ladder to safety. She said a toddler sustained minor injuries.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is being investigated for driving while under the influence
A young child is treated by a paramedic at the the Endymion Parade where 28 were injured and 21 were hospitalized
People gather around an injured woman after a pickup truck ran into a crowd at a Mardi Gras parade
Victims were taken to seven different hospitals throughout the city and five are in critical condition
A vehicle is seen crashed along the Endymion parade route at Orleans and Carollton during Mardi Gras
People console each other as they watch New Orleans police work the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd injuring 28
A truck plowed into the crowd at the Krewe Of Endymion Mardi Gras Parade, the largest parade of Mardi Gras
Witnesses claim the grey truck veered into the crowd after crashing into two vehicles
One of those injured is a police officer. Her condition is not considered life threatening.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu tweeted: 'We are grateful that no one suffered any life threatening injuries.'
Witnesses claim the grey truck veered into the crowd after crashing into two vehicles before striking a dump truck. Several people were reportedly pinned underneath the pickup truck after the accident.
Trey Klechak, a 20-year-old student at Louisiana State University who was at the scene told Nola.com: 'We heard tires screeching, and we looked to our left and saw a dark grey Chevy 1500 Silverado and it looked like he was swerving in between people that were walking, trying to get to the parade route.'
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'There were bodies flying off the hood while he was still driving.'
'Luckily there was a dump truck parked on the other side, and luckily when he went up on neutral ground, he slammed into the dump truck'
Witness Greg McNeely told Nola.com: '[The driver] took out rows of people.'
About the truck driver, McNeely told the New Orleans Advocate: 'He just looked young. Way to be young to be drinking like that. He looked blasted.'
One man was arrested at the scene and is being investigated for driving while under the influence. He has not yet been publically identified.
A source also told CNN: 'It appears to be a drunk driver,' that sped through the crowd.
NOLA Mayor Mitch Landrieu tweeted that there were not any life threatening injuries from the crash
The number of people injured could increase. So far 28 have been reported injured
Several people were reportedly pinned underneath the truck after the accident
A woman talks on a phone at the scene of where a truck slammed into a crowd and other vehicles
In a statement, the FBI said Saturday night: 'The FBI New Orleans Division is aware of the mass casualty incident that happened along the Endymion Mardi Gras parade route this evening in New Orleans.
'We are currently coordinating with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to determine whether a federal violation has occurred.'
Mayor Mitch Landrieu told the New Orleans Advocate: 'We've had individuals who made really bad decisions today.
'Innocent people were hurt here today. Families watching the parade.'
People dressed up to celebrate Mardi Gras walk away from the scene of the crash that hospitalized 21
At least 28 people are injured after a truck plowed through party-goers at the Endymion Parade Saturday evening
NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said there is not any evidence to suspect terrorism
The 28 injured were taken to seven different hospitals throughout the city in 10 ambulances
A witness told the New Orleans Advocate that the driver did not appear to understand what had happened after the crash
Parade attendee Carrie Kinsella said: 'I actually literally felt it. I felt a rush it was so fast.'
The driver did not appear to understand what had happened after the crash and his eyes looked glazed over.
The number of people injured could increase, police said. There are not any reported fatalities at this time.
Harrison told the Advocate: 'We tell people not to drunk drive. We tell them not to bring guns. We ask people to make good decisions.'
Spectators said the parade paused for about 10 minutes after the crash then continued along the route.
The Krewe Of Endymion Mardi Gras Parade is the largest of the 80 parades during the festivals according to Mardi Gras New Orleans.
A young reveler scream for beads during the Krewe of Endymion Mardi Gras parade before the crash at 6.45pm Saturday
Spectators said the parade paused for about 10 minutes after the crash that left 28 injured
People cheer at the parade in New Orleans earlier on Saturday before the horror crash
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4260550/Truck-plows-people-New-Orleans-Mardi-Gras-parade.html#ixzz4ZlWuFAwP
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