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New Orleans parade crash suspect had three times blood alcohol limit: Police

By Ed Adamczyk

Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Police in New Orleans said a man who drove a vehicle into a Mardi Gras parade crowd had a blood alcohol content of 0.232 percent, nearly three times the legal limit.

Louisiana's legal blood alcohol content limit is .008 percent, indicating suspect Neilson Rizzuto, 25, can be charged with driving while impaired.

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He has been charged with two counts of first-degree negligent vehicular injuring, one count of hit-and-run driving causing serious injury and one count of reckless operation of a vehicle in connection with the Saturday night crash, officials said. Nineteen additional charges are pending, prosecutors said Sunday.

The incident occurred Saturday evening as the Crewe of Endymion parade, an annual pre-Mardi Gras event and the largest of New Orleans' Mardi Gras parades, was in progress. Police Chief Michael Harrison said a pickup truck struck two vehicles before traveling into a crowd of onlookers. At least 28 people, including a police officer and two children, 3 and 4, were injured. Harrison added the driver appeared to be intoxicated, and that there was no indication of a terrorist motive.

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Rizzuto was assigned a public defender. His bail was set at $125,000.

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