A car speeds through a Wisconsin parade, killing 5 people and injuring 40 others
A holiday parade in Waukesha, Wis., turned into a nightmare Sunday evening when a driver in a red SUV ripped through the throng. According to the city, five individuals have been confirmed deceased and over 40 have been injured as a result of the truck’s collision with parade marchers.
Children were among those hit by the automobile, according to Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson. According to Fire Chief Steven Howard, 11 adults and 12 paediatric patients were sent to six hospitals in the area.
As of 8 p.m., Children’s Wisconsin, a health care organisation with two hospitals in the state, stated it had taken in 15 patients from the incident, with “with no reported fatalities at our hospital at that time.”
Authorities have not released any additional information regarding the injuries or fatalities as they seek to notify the victims’ families.
One of Milwaukee’s Catholic priests, several parishioners, and Waukesha Catholic schoolchildren were among those injured, according to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
“Please join us in prayer for all those involved, their families, and those who are traumatised from witnessing the horrible scene,” Archdiocese spokesperson Sandra Peterson said in a statement issued late Sunday night.
Details about who was injured are emerging.
When the vehicle drove over barricades and proceeded through the parade route at roughly 4:39 p.m., the 58th annual holiday celebration in downtown Waukesha was in full swing.
According to videos of the crash posted in the hours following the tragedy and brief remarks released by parade participants, an idea of who some of the victims were formed overnight.
The identities of individuals who died or were injured were not confirmed by police.
However, organisations such as the Catholic Community of Waukesha, Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, Waukesha Xtreme Dance, and the Catholic Community of Waukesha published statements indicating that members of their organisations who were participating in the parade at the time of the truck incident were impacted.
According to the parade lineup, those organisations marched behind each other during the procession.
According to Monica Cardenas, the director of stewardship and communication, the Catholic Community of Waukesha published a statement Sunday night merely stating that numerous parishioners had been hurt and were hospitalised.
The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, a dancing team made up of women ranging in age from early fifties to mid-seventies, performed after members of the Catholic Community of Waukesha. The sole condition for membership, according to the website, is that you are a grandma.
According to the group’s Facebook post, “Members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions. Please keep the Grannies, all those injured, and all those who witnessed this horrible event in your thoughts and prayers.”
The Waukesha Xtreme Dance, a group of youngsters aged two to eight, was further down the parade route. On its Facebook page, the organisation begged the public to keep its members in their “thoughts and prayers.” In addition, the group asked “time and privacy to process the tragic events.”
The police have released little facts about the person of interest.
Police Chief Thompson stated that the suspected vehicle had been discovered and that a “person of interest” was in custody, but he did not identify whether or not this was the driver. He stated he didn’t know if there was a “nexus to terrorism.”
According to the FBI’s Milwaukee branch, the agency is assisting in the investigation.
There are no more threats, and the scene is secure, according to the police chief.
According to Thompson, a police officer then attempted to stop the driver by firing his gun at the vehicle, but no bystanders were hurt. “We do not believe there was any shots fired from the vehicle,”” the police chief stated.
Social media videos show a red SUV tearing past low-level barricades and driving away. A law enforcement officer can be seen in the footage opening fire on the vehicle.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers commended first responders and others who jumped in to help, and said the state is in contact with local partners to stay up to date on the newest developments.