An alleged drunk driver has been charged with ramming his car into a parade in Louisiana and injuring at least 15 people on Saturday.
State police identified Todd Landry, 57, as the suspect who slammed into a crowd at the Louisiana Lao New Year Festival in New Iberia, which is just south of Lafayette.
The crash occurred around 2.30pm. At least four people were left in critical condition, with two taken to the hospital via helicopter, according to an X post from the Acadian Ambulance service.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office said that the other people who were injured were also taken to hospitals in Lafayette for treatment.
Landry is facing 18 counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injuring, and one count each of driving while impaired, careless operation and open container.
He was booked into the Iberia Parish Jail on Saturday night, where he remains as of Sunday afternoon while waiting for his bond to be set, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office Jail Roster.
Louisiana State Police said the alleged drunk driver submitted a breathalyzer test that came back with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.137 percent. The legal BAC limit in Louisiana is 0.08 percent.
The University of South Carolina states that any BAC level above 0.1 percent leads to 'clear deterioration in judgment, coordination, and reaction time,' and any level above 0.15 percent, which Landry was allegedly approaching, increases risk of blackouts.
Todd Landry, 57, has been identified as the suspect who rammed into a crowded parade in Louisiana on Saturday, injuring at least 15 people.
A blue muscle car that appears to have been the one that plowed into the crowd and was likely owned by Landry was seen in a ditch in a video of the aftermath of the crash.
The video taken after the crash also showed dozens of injured people lying on the floor as first responders rushed to help. Police were also captured on footage arresting Landry.
Footage from the aftermath of the crash showed dozens of injured people lying on the floor as emergency workers raced to their side.
A blue muscle car that appears to have been the one that plowed into the crowd, and therefore likely belonged to Landry, was seen in a ditch.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, which has been the lead investigative agency, said that based on its preliminary investigation, the crash did not appear to be an intentional act.
The Louisiana Lao New Year Festival is a Buddhist celebration which honors the Lao culture.
The festival's organizers released a statement that said: 'We are profoundly saddened by the news of the incident near the festival grounds. We are awaiting additional details from authorities as they become available.
'All security resources have been redirected to the scene, and we currently do not have security personnel available due to the circumstances.
'In the interest of public safety, tonight's festival music programs will be canceled (no live concerts, no alcohol sales). Vendors will remain open until 9:00 PM. We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time.
'As of now, and if security resources are restored for tomorrow (Sunday) we will reopen only the religious services of the festival, and vendors will stay open.'
The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office said that based on its preliminary investigation, the crash did not appear to be intentional. People who were attending the parade are pictured around emergency response vehicles.
The Buddhist parade in the Louisiana town of New Iberia honors the Lao culture. It is pictured in a video shared on Saturday before the car hit the crowd.
If convicted of just one first-degree vehicular negligent injuring charge, Landry would face a sentence of up to ten years in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to Louisiana law.
His other charges, such as driving while impaired, would yield lighter sentences of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 and a suspension of his license.