Mardi Gras crash suspect's alcohol level nearly triple limit
Rebecca Santana, Associated Press
Updated 1:02 am, Monday, February 27, 2017
Neilson Rizutto is seen in an undated photo provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. The New Orleans Police Department issued a statement Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, identifying Rizutto as the man who allegedly plowed into a crowd enjoying a Mardi Gras parade Saturday in New Orleans while intoxicated. (Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office via AP)
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Neilson Rizutto is seen in an undated photo provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. The New Orleans Police Department issued a statement Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, identifying Rizutto as the man who
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Photo: AP
Police stand next to a pickup truck that slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, coming to a stop against a dump truck, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
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Police stand next to a pickup truck that slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, coming to a stop against a dump truck, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday,
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Photo: Gerald Herbert, AP
Police talk to a man sitting in a car that was struck by a pickup truck, that slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
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Police talk to a man sitting in a car that was struck by a pickup truck, that slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday,
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Photo: Gerald Herbert, AP
A woman talks on a phone at the scene of where a truck slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
A woman talks on a phone at the scene of where a truck slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
Photo: Gerald Herbert, AP
Police talk to a woman at the scene where a vehicle slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
Police talk to a woman at the scene where a vehicle slammed into a crowd and other vehicles, causing multiple injuries, during the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
Photo: Gerald Herbert, AP
A person is carried on a stretcher as New Orleans police work at the scene where multiple people were injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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A person is carried on a stretcher as New Orleans police work at the scene where multiple people were injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
New Orleans Fire Dept. and emergency personnel responds at the scene where multiple people were injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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New Orleans Fire Dept. and emergency personnel responds at the scene where multiple people were injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
New Orleans police talk to people injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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New Orleans police talk to people injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
New Orleans police work at the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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New Orleans police work at the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
New Orleans police work at the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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New Orleans police work at the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
People hug and console each other as they watch New Orleans police work the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd injuring multiple people as the Krewe of Endymion parade rolled through New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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People hug and console each other as they watch New Orleans police work the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd injuring multiple people as the Krewe of Endymion parade rolled through New Orleans,
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
An ambulance backs up as New Orleans police work at the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd injuring multiple people watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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An ambulance backs up as New Orleans police work at the scene where a vehicle plowed into a crowd injuring multiple people watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section in New Orleans, Saturday,
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
Parade goers walk by a wrecked car as New Orleans police work at the scene where a pickup truck plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
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Parade goers walk by a wrecked car as New Orleans police work at the scene where a pickup truck plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb.
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Photo: Chris Granger, AP
New Orleans emergency personnel attend to injured parade watchers after a pickup truck plowed into a crowd and injured multiple people watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Police Chief Michael Harrison says one person in custody and that he is being investigated for driving while intoxicated. (Scott Threlkeld/The Advocate via AP)
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New Orleans emergency personnel attend to injured parade watchers after a pickup truck plowed into a crowd and injured multiple people watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New
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Photo: Scott Threlkeld, AP
Mardi Gras crash suspect's alcohol level nearly triple limit
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The driver accused of plowing into a crowd enjoying a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, police said.
The New Orleans Police Department issued a statement identifying the man as 25-year-old Neilson Rizzuto. He's being held at the city's jail on charges of first-degree negligent vehicular injuring, hit-and-run driving causing serious injury and reckless operation of a vehicle.
The accident happened Saturday during one of the busiest nights of Mardi Gras when thousands of people throng the streets of Mid-City to watch the elaborate floats and clamor to catch beads and trinkets tossed from riders.
Police said Sunday that 28 people were hurt in the accident that sent 21 people to the hospital; an additional seven people at the scene declined medical help. At least three victims remained hospitalized overnight with moderate to serious injuries, police said Sunday. There were no fatalities.
Ages of the victims ranged from 1 year old to patients in their 50s, police said.
Police say a breath alcohol test determined Rizzuto's alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.
"We suspect that that subject was highly intoxicated," Police Chief Michael Harrison had said on Saturday evening.
Harrison was asked by the media if terrorism was suspected. While he didn't say "No," he did say it looks like a case of DWI.
Rizzuto is being held on $125,000 bond in a New Orleans jail, The Advocate reported (http://bit.ly/2mtjUnG). Commissioner Robert Blackburn said if Rizzuto makes bond he would be placed under house arrest, forced to wear an ankle monitor and would be prohibited from driving.
The commissioner told Rizzuto, who was handcuffed and wearing an orange jumper, that he was setting the bail for an amount he "envisioned" for about 21 counts — referring to the number of people who went to the hospital.
Rizzuto's father told WWL-TV (http://bit.ly/2lZWmcs) that he was still trying to understand what happened and that his son is a "good kid." John Rizzuto told the station he spoke with his son multiple times Sunday morning and that his son said "a stranger gave him a drink off the street and that's the last thing he remembered."
Among the injured was one New Orleans police officer. Harrison said Saturday night the officer, who was on duty, was undergoing tests to determine the extent of her injuries. She was in "good spirits," he said.
Saturday night's parade was put on by the Krewe of Endymion, which is known for its long, elaborate floats and the big party it hosts at the Superdome after the parade.
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Associated Press writer Kevin McGill contributed to this report.