Nearly 30 hurt as truck ploughs into parade crowd in New Orleans

Apickup truck has ploughed into a parade in New Orleans, leaving 28 inured.

کد خبر: ۶۷۱۴۹۹

تاریخ: ۰۸ اسفند ۱۳۹۵ - ۰۸:۵۵

Telegraph - Apickup truck has ploughed into a parade in New Orleans, leaving 28 inured.

Initially it was reported that a dozen people people were in a critical condition.

But later reports suggested none of the injuries were life threatening.

Those injured were taken to seven different hospitals, the New Orleans Advocate reported.

The youngest victim is understood to be three years old and the oldest around 40. One of those hurt was a woman police officer.

The truck ploughed into revellers in the Krewe of Endymion parade,  one of several events leading up to the main Mardi Gras festivities.

Police Chief Michael Harrison said the suspect is being investigated for driving while intoxicated. Harrison was asked twice by the media if terrorism was suspected. While he didn't say "No" he did say it looks like a case of driving while intoxicated.

"We suspect that that subject was highly intoxicated," he said.

Carrie Kinsella said  she felt the silver truck whisking past her. "I actually literally felt it. I felt a rush it was so fast,” she said.

Another witness, Kourtney McKinnis, 20, said the driver was "kind of out of it."

Another witness said the truck hit a white saloon car, sending it crashing into a utility pole.

The Krewe of Endymion parade has attracted a number of celebrity guests in the past, including Fats Domino, Smokey Robinson, Britney Spears, Chuck Norris and the Beach Boys.

The incident took place five hours after a man was shot and wounded. Police believe the gun was fired by accident.