Vehicle plows into parade crowd in New Orleans – 21 hurt

The driver eventually came to a stop after slamming into a dump truck.

One police officer has been “physically injured and affected” as result of the incident, the authorities said.

“We send a strong message about not drinking and driving, and about making smart decisions”, New Orleans police superintendent Michael Harrison said.

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 carnivals and riotous celebration of Mardi Gras are replaced with the solemn Christian season of Lent from Wednesday onwards.

Asked whether the city should have had the other side of Carrollton closed, Landrieu said it’s something the city already does on the Uptown route. He stated that the driver “took out rows of people”. That sedan hit a wooden pole.

First responders rushed to the site of New Orleans’ Endymion Parade after a vehicle plowed into a crowd of parade-watchers.

“I remember there was one girl that was standing to our right that was pretty close to the street”. She said she brings her granddaughter, Amaya, to the event every year. An additional seven people were injured, but they declined medical transportation. “I want to thank all of our emergency personnel for responding quickly, aiding the injured, and apprehending the drunk driver”.