MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin, US), Nov 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five people were killed and more than 40 were injured Sunday after an SUV plowed through a crowd at a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the city announced early Monday.
One person has been taken into custody, according to police.
At approximately 4:39 p.m., an SUV went through a barricade at Gasper Avenue and Main Street and then proceeded to drive into the crowd that gathered for the parade, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said.
Earlier in the evening police and local hospitals said at least 11 adults and 15 children were injured. Information about the severity of injuries wasn’t immediately known, authorities said. “Some” fatalities were reported, but police declined to provide a number of those who died, citing privacy of the victims’ families.
In an announcement posted to Twitter early Monday, the city said that exact numbers of those harmed could change as more information becomes available.
As of 8 p.m., Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin said it received 15 patients from the incident, with no fatalities reported at the time.
Aurora Medical Center in Summit was treating a total of 13 patients late Sunday: three in critical condition, four in serious condition and six in fair condition, according to a statement.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee said one of its priests, as well as multiple parishioners and Waukesha Catholic school children, were injured in the incident.
The event was live-streamed on Facebook, and a portion of the video showed a red SUV driving through the parade at what appeared to be a high rate of speed followed by gasps and sirens.
Authorities said the vehicle was recovered, and one “person of interest” was taken into custody.
The incident may have transpired when a knife fight or stabbing occurred and then a person involved fled, according to four senior law enforcement officials.
Police aren’t looking for anyone else in connection with the vehicle incident, but may be seeking additional suspects in the knife fight, the sources said.
One video shows the SUV striking what appears to be members of a marching band and several others along the parade route before driving on. The sound of the marching band heard before the SUV approaches is replaced by screams. — NNN-AGENCIES
