28 injured as vehicle plows into Endymion crowd in Mid-City
02/26/2017 10:14 pm PST
via WGNO:
NEW ORLEANS -- (WGNO) -- Police have released the name of the man they say is responsible for this disaster. Twenty-five-year-old Neilson Rizzuto was arrested on several charges. He has been released on $125,000 bond and is now under house arrest, according to the NOPD.
A vehicle plowed into a crowd of people at the intersection of North Carrollton and Orleans. The people were watching the Krewe of Endymion's parade, which draws one of the biggest crowds of Carnival.
NOPD Chief Michael Harrison said 21 people have been taken to University Medical Center and nine other hospitals. Seven others declined medical attention.
A suspect driving the pickup truck is in custody. The driver was driving on the opposite side of the parade on Carrollton and lost control of his vehicle. He hit a number of vehicles then drove over the neutral ground and into a crowd of people before crashing into a sanitation truck.
He struck a number of pedestrians. One police officer was struck by a vehicle. She was injured but in good spirits, Harrison said. Her injuries don't appear to be life-threatening.
The ages of the victims range from 3 or 4 years old to people in their 30s or 40s. The youngest seems to be in good condition.
Police suspect the driver was highly intoxicated.
FULL STORY: 28 injured as vehicle plows into Endymion crowd in Mid-City - WGNO