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Waukesha holiday parade: SUV drives through crowd, killing 5 and injuring over 40

The 'suspect vehicle' was recovered after what is being called a mass casualty event

UPDATE: Waukesha police confirmed on Monday that five people died and more than 40 injured in the holiday parade after an SUV rammed the crown on Sunday.

WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN: Horror unfolded at a holiday parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, November 21, when a speeding SUV plowed through barricades and drove into the crowd. At least 20 people, including children, have been struck. There are reports of multiple people killed, but the exact number was not revealed. According to Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson, the “suspect vehicle” was recovered after what is being called a mass casualty event. Investigators now have a “person of interest".

The police chief, however, did not say whether the driver was intentionally trying to hit people. “Very tragic incident, very chaotic. There are no other threats involved,” Thompson said. “The scene is now safe.” There were unconfirmed reports of gunshots too, but it is not clear if they were coming from police trying to stop the disaster, or from the vehicle.

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Videos of the horrific incident, which are viral on social media, show a red Ford Escape smashing through white barricades before racing down the road towards a high school marching band. The car drove right through the parade as screams filled the air, running over people and driving away as the scrowd scattered. “As we were walking back in between the buildings that we saw an SUV crossover just put the pedal to the metal and just zooming full speed along the parade route,” alderman Angelito Tenorio, who had just finished marching, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “And then we heard a loud bang, and just deafening cries and screams from people who are who are struck by the vehicle. And then, and then we saw people running away or stopping crying, and there, there are people on the ground who looked like they'd been hit by the vehicle.”

In a Facebook post, Waukesha Police advised people to avoid the downtown area. "This is an unspeakable tragedy, affecting us all as we work to overcome an extremely challenging two years and resume our cherished holiday traditions," Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow said in a statement. "I had just finished participating in the parade with my wife when I noticed police sirens. Shortly afterward, I learned that a vehicle drove through the parade route injuring many people. Please pray for our community tonight after the horrific events at the Waukesha Christmas Parade." Farrow said that the case is under investigation.

"Kathy and I are praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act," Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said on Twitter. "I'm grateful for the first responders and folks who acted quickly to help, and we are in contact with local partners as we await more information."