Driver Crashes Into Crowd, Injuring More Than a Dozen at Louisiana Community Event

More than a dozen people were injured when a motorist struck a crowd of people gathered at a community event in Broussard, Louisiana, on April 4.

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office initially reported that its deputies responded to a crash on the corner of Savannakhet and Melancon Road. People were gathering in the area at the time as part of a Lao New Year celebration.

“Several individuals sustained injuries, some of which are believed to be serious,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Acadian Ambulance Service said its teams also arrived on the scene and transported 11 patients by ground, and another two by air.

Louisiana State Police subsequently announced the arrest of Todd Landry, 57, of Jeanerette, in connection with the crash.

“During the investigation, Landry showed signs of impairment and ultimately submitted a breath sample indicating a [blood alcohol content] of 0.137g%,” Louisiana State Police stated.

Landry was charged with driving while impaired as a first offense, 18 counts of first-degree negligent injuring, careless operation of a vehicle, and having an open container. He was booked in the Iberia Parish jail.

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office was listed as the lead investigating agency handling the incident.

“We are profoundly saddened by the news of the incident near the festival grounds,” organizers for the Louisiana Lao New Year Festival said in a Facebook post addressing the emergency incident.

The festival organizers said the incident strained the public safety resources that had initially been allocated for the celebration, forcing event planners to cancel some aspects of the celebration because of emergent safety concerns.

“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. … Vendors will remain open until 9:00 PM,” organizers stated in an announcement.

Lao New Year is commonly celebrated as a three-day festival in mid-April.

“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 event organizers said.

In New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2025, 14 victims and a perpetrator were killed during an attack on a New Year’s Day parade.

During Christmastime, about 350 Louisiana National Guard members were activated for a planned two-month statewide mission to assist crime prevention efforts in the state. Those troops were activated with federal support, but remained under the command of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.