“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” said a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, Rebecca Melancon.
The Louisiana State Police said the driver, who is 57 and lived in Jeanerette, appeared impaired when police arrived and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. He was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
This is so pathetic. Imagine going out to celebrate and some intoxicated idiot in a car runs over more than a dozen people
185
Itchy-Beach-13846 days ago
+92
I dont think the fact they were inebriated removes the possibility this was an attack. Hopefully their investigation goes beyond that and they just dont want to disclose too much due to state policy.
92
fxkatt6 days ago
+40
I agree, and can site many domestic abuse cases where this is operative. The drinking is the convenient excuse for the action, but the targeting is intentional.
40
savvy-misanthrope5 days ago
+3
More likely the inebriated driver was a participant in the festivities.
3
WinterSector83176 days ago
+14
Certainly looks like the kind of car a racist alcoholic would own
14
its_kgs_not_lbs6 days ago
+6
Funny. That is exactly what I thought when I saw the pic. Throw in domestic abuser.
Hopefully the people injured recover. This sucks.
6
[deleted]5 days ago
+2
[removed]
2
HolyLiaison6 days ago
+22
"this does not appear to be intentional"
Dude drove drunk, with an open container in the vehicle. That's putting everyone around them in danger. I'd say that's pretty intentional.
22
JuniperJupiter46 days ago
+39
I would assume they are differentiating it from a hate crime.
39
SetUsed42176 days ago
+22
Oh you know what they meant (I hope at least). Driving drunk was an intentional choice, but incidents like this are usually due to drunk drivers being overconfident morons who think they'll get home fine, not because they want to intentionally want to hurt people. Its worth differentiating to understand if the incident was a targeted hate crime or a reckless idiot.
22
chibiusa405 days ago
-2
Totally agree about what is meant by "intentional" here, but at the same time, we can't d******* the possibility that it's both. Sadly, "Let's get wasted and f*** up some forriners" is a time-honored racist past-time.
Then there's also the possibility of either "drives drunk without intending to use his car as a weapon, but then sees the celebration, gets irrationally angry, and intentionally drives his car into it." and "drives drunk without intending to use his car as a weapon, but his lowered inhibitions mean that when he sees the celebration he gets irrationally angry about it, decides to 'teach those forriners a lesson' and intentionally drives his car straight toward them to 'to scare them as a prank' but ends up hitting a bunch of people."
It totally may have been *just* "stupid & reckless". But it could also be "stupid & malicious" or "stupid & reckless turns malicious".
-2
Footdude7775 days ago
+2
For context, around the festival are tons of houses all throwing parties. I'm shocked this doesn't happen every year. I've seriously never seen so much Hennesy in my life!
2
mcclrd6 days ago
+39
I've been to this festival and it's a 3day alcoholic bender. Surprised it hasn't happened sooner. There were fights and other stupid actions going on . Usually it's kept under wraps because where it's held is a Buddhist temple in a Lao neighborhood.
39
ConfoundedHokie6 days ago
+21
I've also been. I always had a good time without seeing fights or whatnot. But that was at least 15 years ago, so maybe things have changed. Laotians in South Louisiana are some good people.
That said, there are few events in Acadiana not tinged with alcohol and pas bon shenanigans.
21
BellesCotes6 days ago
+8
>pas bon shenanigans
That's the most "Louisiana" thing I've ever heard! 😆
8
petit_cochon5 days ago
+3
It only takes one couyon to set things off.
3
ConfoundedHokie4 days ago
+1
*coullion but ye I hear ya.
1
devonhezter6 days ago
+4
Why do ppl drink so mich
4
Ok_Guide80846 days ago
+6
easy access, marketing, addictive substance, social norms =
6
mcclrd6 days ago
+7
People have lack of self control. If I were to guess this old dude got invited there. Drank and probably wanted to show off, lost control of the vehicle and now you have this article.
7
dat1nurse5 days ago
+3
This is exactly what happened. I was there. Thankfully we were around the corner on the other street when this happened.
3
Neravariine5 days ago
+1
Weed gets you fired while getting drunk every day after work doesn't.
22 Comments