Police identified the driver who crashed through a parade crowd in New Orleans.
Neilson Rizzuto, 25, was arrested and charged with first degree negligent vehicular injuring, hit-and-run driving causing serious injury and reckless operation of a vehicle, New Orleans Police said in a statement Sunday.
Rizzuto careened through a crowd during a parade Saturday on one of the busiest nights of the Mardi Gras season, injuring at least 28 people, police say. There were no fatalities.
UPDATE: The NOPD has arrested Neilson Rizzuto after he plowed into a crowd of people including an NOPD officerhttps://t.co/HME1sqskJR
— NOPD (@NOPDNews) February 26, 2017
A breath alcohol test determined that Rizzuto's alcohol level was three times the legal limit.
Rizzuto drove a gray truck through the Krewe of Endymion parade around 6:45 p.m., according to The Advocate.
"Initial reports show so far about a dozen people are in critical condition," police spokeswoman Ambria Washington told The Times-Picayune. "That number could increase as the investigation is ongoing."
Twenty-one people were hospitalized, five in critical condition. Seven other people declined treatment.
The crash comes during the final weekend of Carnival at one of the city's largest parades.
NOPD arrest made at Carrollton and Orleans. Several injured after car crashes into people by parade. @WWLTV pic.twitter.com/mBbg6SmLIh
NOPD is investigating a crash where a vehicle ran into a crowd of people at the Orleans and Carrollton. #NOPDAlert pic.twitter.com/Ll8YeVI7ru
— NOPD (@NOPDNews) February 26, 2017
Thanks to our first responders for the care you provided to the victims and others watching the parade. pic.twitter.com/b926KBX7iv
— Mitch Landrieu (@MitchLandrieu) February 26, 2017
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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