A pickup truck driven by a man who appeared to be "highly intoxicated" ploughed into a crowd of spectators watching the main mardi gras parade in New Orleans, send more than 20 people to the hospital, police say.
The truck, travelling along the side of the street open to traffic along the parade route, struck three other vehicles, including a dump truck, before veering onto the median where a crowd of people stood watching the procession, according to New Orleans police.
Police immediately apprehended the pickup driver, who according to eyewitnesses interviewed by Fox television affiliate WVEU-TV appeared dishevelled, glassy-eyed and under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Video footage from the scene showed pandemonium immediately following the early on Saturday evening incident, but the Krewe of Endymion parade, the largest and most popular of numerous mardi gras season parades in New Orleans, continued with little or no interruption.
A total of 28 people were injured, 21 of whom were taken to a local hospital, including one police officer. Seven others who were hurt declined transport, Police Chief Michael Harrison told a news conference.
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Local media reports said 12 people were initially listed as critically injured.
Harrison said police believed the motorist who was arrested was "highly intoxicated" and was being questioned at the police department's drunken-driving office.
