A drunk driver with a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit plowed into a Louisiana festival parade, injuring 18 people—including a child—while families celebrated a 30-year cultural tradition, raising fresh concerns about public safety at community gatherings.
Story Snapshot
- Todd Landry, 57, charged with 18 counts of first-degree negligent injuring after striking parade participants with BAC of 0.137g%
- 18 people injured, 5 in critical condition, at Louisiana Lao New Year Celebration in Coteau on April 4, 2026
- Emergency responders deployed 10 ambulances and 2 helicopters; video showed child falling from vehicle and person trapped underneath
- Authorities confirmed incident was not intentional but resulted from driver impairment during culturally significant parade with thousands attending
Drunk Driver Strikes Parade Participants During Cultural Celebration
Todd Landry drove a blue sedan into revelers at the Louisiana Lao New Year Celebration parade near Savannakhet Street and Melancon Road at approximately 2:36 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The vehicle struck a golf cart and pedestrians less than half a mile from the festival venue at Wat Thammarattanaram temple. Louisiana State Police confirmed Landry’s blood alcohol content measured 0.137g%, significantly exceeding the state’s 0.08% legal limit. Video footage captured a child falling from the front of the vehicle as it crashed into the crowd before ending up in a ditch.
Mass Casualty Response and Critical Injuries
Acadian Ambulance coordinated an extensive emergency response, dispatching 10 ambulances and 2 helicopters to the scene. Louisiana State Police reported 18 people injured, with five in critical condition requiring immediate advanced medical care. Two patients were airlifted for treatment. Emergency responders worked to extract at least one person trapped underneath the vehicle, as shown in witness videos. The rapid deployment of emergency resources demonstrated effective protocols for mass casualty incidents, though the sheer number of victims overwhelmed what should have been a joyous community celebration.
Serious Criminal Charges Filed Against Jeanerette Man
Authorities arrested and charged Landry with 18 counts of first-degree negligent injuring, driving while impaired, careless operation, and possessing an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. The multiple felony counts reflect the severity of the incident and the number of victims harmed. Each count of first-degree negligent injuring carries potential prison time, meaning Landry faces significant consequences if convicted on all charges. The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office stated their preliminary investigation determined the incident “does not appear to be an intentional act,” classifying it as a drunk driving accident rather than a deliberate attack.
Festival Disrupted, Community Safety Questions Emerge
The Louisiana Lao New Year Celebration, a 30-year tradition for the Laotian community in Iberia Parish, draws thousands of attendees from across the South during Easter weekend. Festival organizers canceled Saturday evening’s music program but kept vendors open until 9 p.m. They indicated Sunday operations would proceed with only religious services and vendors if adequate security resources could be arranged. The incident raises legitimate concerns about public safety at community parades, particularly those with participants on foot, floats, and golf carts vulnerable to vehicle intrusions. This tragedy disrupted a culturally significant celebration for a minority community that has maintained this tradition since the Vietnam War era.
The parade’s makeshift structure—thousands of revelers on foot, floats, and golf carts passing through residential streets—created conditions where an impaired driver could cause catastrophic harm. While authorities determined this was not an intentional attack, the vulnerability of parade participants to vehicle-related incidents demands scrutiny. Communities hosting similar events should evaluate whether current security measures adequately protect attendees from impaired or reckless drivers. This incident underscores how one individual’s irresponsible decision to drive drunk can shatter families and traumatize an entire community during what should be a celebration of heritage and tradition.
Sources:
Vehicle hits revelers during Lao New Year celebration in Louisiana – Tri-City Record NM



