Vehicle drives into crowd at Mardi Gras parade in Alabama

A 73-year-old Fairhope, Ala., man accelerated just before his SUV plowed into the Gulf Shores High School Band during its annual Mardi Gras parade, injuring 12 students, four of those critical.

“It was a very busy time for us as restauranteurs”, Kearney said. Students were still pinned beneath it. “They’d use these ingredients to make sweet doughnuts called paczki’s”, said Abella. “He just sat there, kind of sat there”.

The Police Department labeled Wednesday’s parade crash as a “tragic accident” which occurred around 10:05 a.m. after the vehicle struck the band members.

The Mint 400 parade of more than 300 off-road racing vehicles departs Gene Woods Racing Experience Go-Kart opposite McCarran Airport and proceeds north along Las Vegas Boulevard to set up tech positions along Fremont Street Downtown. One victim was airlifted to the hospital.

A spokesman says the group extends its prayers to the injured.

City officials are on the scene of the crash, and the Gulf Shores Parade is officially canceled at this time. Photos posted on Twitter showed items scattered across the start of the parade route on State Highway 59.

Local media reports said the driver appeared to hit the gas pedal rather than the brakes, but Delmore said police were still investigating what caused the driver to lose control.

Authorities said they believe neither alcohol or drugs are involved and the act wasn’t intentional.

Dressed in handcrafted Mardi Gras masks and walking to songs such as “When the Saints Go Marching In”, pre-k students at the Stepping Stone School celebrated Mardi Gras with seniors at Prestige Estates on Tuesday.