At least 15 people were killed and 30 injured during New Year’s celebration after a vehicle rammed into a crowd in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a popular tourist district.
The New Orleans emergency preparedness program, NOLA Ready, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.
‘The 8th District is currently working on a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street. There are 30 injured patients … and 10 fatalities,’ the statement read.
The crash occurred in the early hours of January 1, 2025, during celebrations in the bustling neighborhood known for its bars, restaurants, and jazz history.
Witnesses confirmed that a white truck crashed through a barricade at high speed. The driver reportedly exited the vehicle and began firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire.
‘We were in the middle of the road and managed to run off the road onto the sidewalk and into the doorway of a building for cover. We did hear gunfire, saw police running,’ witness Jim Mowrer recounted.
‘Once the gunfire stopped, we stayed in the alcove until the gunfire stopped, came out into the street, and came across a lot of — several people who had been hit, (we) wanted to see what we could do to help,’ he added. ‘People we came across were unfortunately deceased.’
