Vehicle plows into Louisiana Lao New Year parade, injuring at least 15 and prompting massive emergency response

AI Summary

A car collided with participants of the Lao New Year parade in New Iberia, Louisiana, leaving an estimated 15 people injured. Authorities say the crash appears unintentional, and a coordinated emergency effort involving ambulances and medical helicopters was deployed. Festival activities were halted while organizers expressed sorrow and pledged to resume religious services.

An estimated 15 people were injured when a vehicle struck attendees of the Lao New Year parade in New Iberia, Iberia Parish, Louisiana.

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, via spokesperson Rebecca Melancon, indicated that the preliminary investigation suggests the incident was not intentional.

According to Acadian Ambulance, 11 victims were transported to hospitals by ground ambulance and two were airlifted for urgent care. The response mobilized ten ambulances and two medical helicopters to the scene.

The crash occurred in New Iberia, a city of over 28,000 residents, located roughly 34 km (21 mi) south of Lafayette and 214 km (130 mi) west of New Orleans.

The Lao New Year Festival parade, an annual Easter‑weekend event featuring live music, food vendors, and a beauty pageant, saw its musical program cancelled while vendors were allowed to remain open until 9 p.m. local time.

Festival organizers expressed deep sorrow, stating, "We are praying for the victims and their families," and indicated that, if security resources are restored, religious services would resume on Sunday.

The Lao New Year celebration, rooted in Buddhist tradition and marking the transition from the dry season to the monsoon, reflects the presence of a vibrant Lao community in Louisiana, particularly in New Iberia’s Lanexang Village, which houses hundreds of Lao residents.

Many members of this community trace their origins to the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the 1975 Pathet Lao takeover, which prompted large‑scale migration to the United States.