Covered chairs are seen among holiday decorations in downtown Waukesha, Wis., after an SUV plowed into a Christmas parade injuring dozens of people Sunday.
Jeffrey Phelps / AP
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Jeffrey Phelps / AP
Covered chairs are seen among holiday decorations in downtown Waukesha, Wis., after an SUV plowed into a Christmas parade injuring dozens of people Sunday.
Jeffrey Phelps / AP
Five people were killed and dozens injured after the driver drove an SUV Join a crowd at the annual Waukesha Christmas Parade in Wisconsin on Sunday.
Within an hour of the parade, Doubts Darrell E. BrooksWaukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson told reporters at a news conference Monday that the 39-year-old “intentionally drove his maroon SUV through an obstacle course into the crowd.”
The five people killed in the crash ranged in age from 52 to 81, Thompson identified the victims as:
- Virginia Sorenson, 79 years old
- LeAnna Owen, 71 years old
- Tamara Durand, 52 years old
- Jane Kulich, 52 years old
- Wilhelm Hospel, 81 years old
“Our prayers go out to all the victims of this tragedy. This senseless act has resulted in 5 deaths and 48 injuries (that number is likely to grow).” city officials said in a statement.
The Waukesha Police Department also notes that trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 national disaster helpline at 800-985-5990.
Brooks is being charged with five counts of murder, Thompson said, with more charges likely to be added as the investigation continues.
Officials at Children’s Hospital Wisconsin in Milwaukee said Monday that they are treating 18 injured children – including two in critical condition, Thompson said.
Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, a local dance troupe for ladies, wrote in a post on Facebook that some of their dancers were among those killed in the incident.
“Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are [devastated] by this terrible tragedy with … loss of life and injuries during the Waukesha Christmas Parade,” the group wrote in its statement. Those killed were extremely passionate Grannies. Their eyes are sparkling [the] the joy of being Grannie. They are binders [that] held us together. “
It remains unclear which of the five victims named by police were part of the dance troupe.
The city of Waukesha is hosting a praying Monday night for the victims of Sunday’s tragedy march.
This is an evolving story. Some events reported later in the press may be false. We will focus on reports from police and other authorities, trusted news agencies and reporters on the scene, and we will update as the situation develops. .
