Todd Landry is in a heap of trouble as police say he was driving drunk when he crashed into a group of people in Louisiana
According to police reports Todd Landry was allegedly driving drunk when he would strike a group of people at a parade in Louisiana injuring at least 18 people.
The Louisiana parade which was celebrating the Lao New Year in Broussard when a mid 60’s Chevy Chevelle struck a group of people. Todd Landry who was driving the vehicle had a blood alcohol level of 0.137% which is higher than the legal limit of .08 for Louisiana
Todd Landry would be arrested at the scene and faces charges of driving while impaired, first-degree negligent injuring, careless operation and open container
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Fifteen people were injured, some seriously, after a vehicle struck multiple pedestrians during the Louisiana Lao New Year Festival parade in rural Louisiana on Saturday, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
The driver of the vehicle is in custody, and the preliminary investigation determined the incident “does not appear to be an intentional act,” said Rebecca Melancon, the public information officer for the sheriff.
The driver, identified as Todd Landry a 57-year-old man from Jeanerette, showed signs of impairment, the state police said in a statement. The sheriff’s department called the state police to assist in responding to the incident around 2:30 p.m., the statement said.
Todd Landry was booked into the Iberia Parish jail for driving while impaired, first-degree negligent injuring, careless operation and open container, the state police said.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office extended “heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families, and the entire Laos community,” according to a statement. CNN has reached out to the Louisiana State Police for updates on the conditions of the victims and more information about the driver.
The Louisiana Lao New Year Festival said it is “profoundly saddened by the news of the incident near the festival grounds.” The festival — which started Friday evening in Broussard and New Iberia, Louisiana — said it is still waiting for additional information from authorities.
The parade is part of a three-day Laotian New Year celebration in the neighborhood of Lanxang Village near New Iberia and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram, the Associated Press reported.
“All security resources have been redirected to the scene, and we currently do not have security personnel available due to the circumstances,” the statement said. Saturday evening’s festival music programs have been canceled, but vendors will remain open until 9 p.m.
The festival features Southeast Asian food, live music and a parade and attracts thousands each year, according to the AP.
Depending on whether security resources are restored for Sunday, the festival will continue but only involve religious services and vendors, the statement said.
“We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” festival organizers said.
Eli Anderson, a festival attendee and witness to the incident, told CNN affiliate KATC he was a few feet away from getting hit by the vehicle. “In that moment, my brain just stopped. I just thought, ‘Is this actually happening?’” said Anderson.
Anderson said he and other festival attendees were walking in the parade, listening to music and enjoying themselves when he noticed a man “get into his car, starts revving his engine, and inch closer to the parade.
“I just simply thought he was coming to join the parade because the car was kind of nice and it was loud. He inches closer and closer, revs his engine again and plows through everybody,” he continues.
“There were people in the golf cart, the guy hit the golf cart and they flew off. Not sure exactly what happened to them, but I know they’re in the hospital right now,” he told KATC.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said on X he and his wife are “praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene.”
The state’s Attorney General Liz Murrill also released a statement, saying she is “praying for all those injured and impacted by this terrible tragedy and will be following up with responding law enforcement agencies to offer support.”
More than a dozen injured after vehicle hits parade-goers during Louisiana celebration | CNN
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A man has been charged with driving under the influence in a crash that injured more than a dozen revelers at a parade celebrating the Lao New Year in Louisiana.
Todd Landry was also charged with 18 counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injuring, as well as one count each of possession of alcohol in a vehicle and careless driving, according to jail and court records.
A car struck “multiple pedestrians” Saturday afternoon at the corner of Savannakhet Street and Melancon Road in Broussard, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office said, noting some injuries were “serious.”
On Sunday, state police said 18 people were hurt. Ambulance service Acadian Ambulance said on X that it transported 11 patients by ground and two by air.
The crash happened during a Lao New Year event celebrating the Buddhist new year in Broussard, a city of around 15,000, about 8 miles southwest of Lafayette and near the city of New Iberia.
Video from the scene showed a blue, mid-1960s Chevrolet Chevelle surrounded by yellow crime scene tape.
Todd Landry was taken into custody soon after the crash. Louisiana State Police identified him as Landry, 57, of Jeanerette, a small city of about 5,000 in Iberia Parish.
Todd Landry showed “signs of impairment,” and a breath test indicated he had a blood alcohol content level of 0.137%, according to state police. The legal limit in Louisiana is 0.08%.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” the sheriff’s office said earlier
The investigation continues, and it’s not clear whether Todd Landry has legal representation. The state public defender’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
Festival organizers canceled Saturday evening’s music programs.
“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,” organizers said on the event’s Facebook page, noting that security has been redirected to the scene.
“We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” they added.
The festival will reopen scheduled religious services Sunday and vendors will be open if security resources “are restored,” the organizers said.
Gov. Jeff Landry wrote on Facebook: “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene
Man charged with DUI in crash that injured over a dozen at Lao New Year parade in Louisiana
