At least five people died and more than 40 were injured on Sunday when a driver overran his SUV vehicle and ran over participants in a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, US, city officials said.
According to a statement from the Waukesha Police Department released late on Sunday, the number could still change as authorities continued to seek more information. The statement also says that many people went to hospitals alone. One person has already been arrested and the investigation remains open.
City Police Chief Dan Phillips and Mayor Shawn Reilly spoke quickly to the press last night to confirm the number of injuries. Phillips also said the vehicle used in the attack, a red SUV, was recovered.
Neither the mayor nor the chief of police wanted to give further details about this “chaotic and tragic incident”, as Phillips described it, which occurred at 4:39 pm (local time; 7:39 pm GMT), when the vehicle hit the parade participants with which the city opened the festive season. The police chief confirmed that several of those who were hit were children.
Authorities have yet to provide information on the suspected person or possible motive. A new press conference with the local police is scheduled for this Monday afternoon.
Several videos posted on social networks show the speed of the car towards the parade. In one of the images, it is possible to hear shots as the vehicle crosses the police cordon to enter the event area.
The city’s police chief reported that a police officer fired his gun in an attempt to stop the car. No one was hurt by the gunshots, the official said, who said he did not know whether the vehicle was hit by the gunfire.
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