Two dead, 21 injured after alleged drunk driver ploughs through SXSW crowd

13 March 2014 - 12:15 By Times LIVE
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General view of the audience at the St. Vincent performance during the NPR 2014 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive show at Stubbs on March 12, 2014 in Austin, Texas.
General view of the audience at the St. Vincent performance during the NPR 2014 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive show at Stubbs on March 12, 2014 in Austin, Texas.
Image: Michael Loccisano

Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas, according to reports.

The Guardian says the driver struck a crowd of pedestrians, and 21 were injured.

Lt Brian Moon told the publication that two people were confirmed dead at the scene in central Austin, along a street where several clubs are located.

The 21 injured were taken to hospital, most with minor injuries. Five to seven had more serious injuries, he added.

LA Weekly says the driver was allegedly drunk.

A source at the scene told the new site that at least some of the fans in the area had lined up to see a performance by rapper Tyler the Creator of LA-based hip-hop crew Odd Future.

The collision happened ...at 12:32am [Thursday] Austin time at Red River Street and East 10th Street, an Austin police official said.

The driver headed south into a closed, one-block area and plowed into crowd members on the street, he said.

Austin police said to SBS that the driver is now in custody but it is unclear if the driver suffered any injuries.

Witness accounts and pictures from the scene quickly spread on social media.

At this time, the names of the victims have not been released, according to the Huffington Post.

Cause of the crash is still under investigation, however, police did take the driver into custody, The Associated Press reported.

Colin Kerrigan, a freelance photographer attending the conference, was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"One moment I'm photographing a magical show the next, I'm photographing a horrible and sad scene," he tweeted.

KVUE's partners at the Austin American-Statesman report that the driver will be charged with two counts of capital murder.

Austin police are asking anyone with information on the accident to speak to officers on scene.

The annual event is a series of music, film and digital festivals and conferences.

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