FBI looking into 'mass casualty event' during Endymion

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

My beloved, Mr U, was only a couple of blocks away when this happened -- he's in town to help a buddy shoot a documentary. He said it was chaos; since he and his friends are grownup people, they left as soon as possible and are staying inside for the rest of the night (there is beer and bourbon there, I have been assured). I am just counting my lucky stars that he was where he was this evening, and not a few hundred yards down the road. 

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A driver plowed into a crowd of Endymion revelers Saturday, injuring 28 people, including a police officer and a toddler. Twenty-one victims were hospitalized, while seven refused treatment.

 

The crash happened at about 6:45 p.m. at the corner of Orleans and N. Carrollton avenues. Police said a truck was speeding down N. Carrollton traveling in the opposite direction of the parade toward City Park, when it hit two vehicles. The impact caused one of those vehicle to strike a third vehicle. The trucker driver then lost control and drove over the neutral ground, striking a city dump truck as he plowed into the crowd.  

 

The truck driver was arrested, according to NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison, who said the suspect was "highly intoxicated." 

 

The FBI issued the following statement late Saturday night:

 

"The FBI New Orleans Division is aware of the mass casualty incident that happened along the Endymion Mardi Gras parade route this evening in New Orleans. We are currently coordinating with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to determine whether a federal violation has occurred?."

 

Five victims are being treated at trauma centers. The police officer is in good condition and the toddler is stable, according to police. The injured were taken to seven hospitals in 10 ambulances.

 

http://www.fox8live.com/story/34605642/nopd-12-critical-after-car-plows-into-endymion-parade-crowd

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

And apparently he was only blocks away from this earlier today:

 

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A man was shot along the Uptown New Orleans parade route Saturday in what investigators believe was an accident.

According to police, the shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. near St. Charles and Napoleon avenues.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Police Superintendent Michael Harrison addressed the media at the scene and said the victim was shot in his side after someone handling a gun inside a portalet fired a shot through the wall. The NOPD said investigators think the shooter might have "mishandled the weapon."

 

 

http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/crime_police/article_29348c44-fb9d-11e6-9eda-5b978b1e5989.html

 

He says it was some woman in a port-a-potty whose gun went off while she was relieving herself. 

 

COME HOME IN ONE PIECE, MR U!

[ready4ONE 5,400]

NO is a pretty wild place, especially this time of year. The driver of the truck was reportedly drunk. Terrible thing for the victims. Glad your SO stayed safe. Yikes that sounded a little too close for comfort.

[Jacque67 7,328]

I hope Mr U is Ok!

[Dashinka 24,494]

Agree, I hope for the best for the victims, a quick and speedy recovery.  I have also heard the driver was apparently drunk.  I have been to many incidents where a drunk driver was the cause, it is never pretty.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

12 hours ago, elmcitymaven said:

My beloved, Mr U, was only a couple of blocks away when this happened -- he's in town to help a buddy shoot a documentary. He said it was chaos; since he and his friends are grownup people, they left as soon as possible and are staying inside for the rest of the night (there is beer and bourbon there, I have been assured). I am just counting my lucky stars that he was where he was this evening, and not a few hundred yards down the road. 

http://www.fox8live.com/story/34605642/nopd-12-critical-after-car-plows-into-endymion-parade-crowd

Glad mr U escaped unscathed