According to onlookers and footage, the red SUV entered the parade behind the school marching band.
Washington:
Police said a vehicle crashed at a Christmas parade in the US state of Wisconsin on Sunday evening, killing “some people” and injuring more than 20 people.
Officials were still gathering information about the incident that occurred just after 4:30 p.m. (2230 GMT), as spectators in the city of Waukesha, a Milwaukee suburb, watched the annual tradition.
Police Chief Dan Thompson told reporters: “The Waukesha Christmas parade was taking place when a red SUV was crossing west-facing barricades on its way to Main Street.”
“The vehicle hit over 20 people, some of whom were children, and the incident resulted in some deaths,” he said.
He did not specify the number of people killed and said no further information would be released until the families were informed.
Fire Chief Steven Howard told reporters that a total of 11 adults and 12 children were taken to six regional hospitals.
A “person of interest” was in custody, Thompson said, adding that officers have recovered the vehicle involved. At the press conference, officials said there was no other threat.
During the incident, an officer opened fire on the SUV in an attempt to stop it, officials said.
Schools will not open on Monday and roads will remain closed, Thompson said, while the investigation continues.
the deaf cries
While local law enforcement was the primary responding entity, the FBI said it was providing assistance.
Angelito Tenorio, who is running for Wisconsin state treasurer, was at the parade and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he “saw an SUV cross over, just put the pedal to the metal and zoomed to full speed along the parade route.” “
“And then we heard a loud bang, and just the cries and screams of deaf people who were hit by the vehicle,” he said.
According to onlookers and footage, the SUV entered the parade behind the school marching band.
“All I heard was screaming and then people shouting the names of their kids. That’s all I heard,” another witness, Angela O’Boyle, whose apartment overlooked the parade, told CNN.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said he and his wife are “praying tonight for Waukesha and all the children, families and community members affected by this senseless act.”
Democrat Tammy Baldwin wrote on Twitter that various lawmakers, including two state senators, expressed their condolences that they found “horrific violence… just heartbreaking”.
His Republican counterpart Ron Johnson offered “prayers for all those injured” and “gratitude to all law enforcement, medical personnel and members of the community who responded”.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said he and his wife are “praying tonight for Waukesha and all the children, families and community members affected by this senseless act.”
The crash comes after a turbulent week in the state of Wisconsin, following the conclusion of the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, an American teenager who fatally shot two people during protests and riots against police brutality in Kenosha last year. was acquitted, which is located only 50 miles (80 kilometres) away. ) from Vaukesha.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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