TWELVE children injured – three critically – when elderly man, 73, drives SUV into their marching band in Alabama Mardi Gras parade

  • SUV was following the band on the route when it slammed into the children
  • It was being driven by a 73-year-old male from Fairhope, officials said 
  • All victims were hospitalized, though number of critically injured fell from 4 to 3
  • Six of the victims were from middle school and six from high school, cops said 
  • Car had a Military Officer’s Association of America (MOAA) flag on display
  • MOAA confirmed the car was being used to represent their organization
  • Police may press charges but say they don’t believe there was criminal intent 
  • The man is being voluntarily tested for drugs and alcohol

A vehicle slammed into a school marching band at a Mardi Gras parade in Gulf Shores on Tuesday, injuring 12 children – three critically.

The SUV had a Military Officer’s Association of America (MOAA) flag draped over it when it struck the youths, aged 12 to 17. It was on top of several of them when it stopped, witnesses said.

Police confirmed that a 73-year-old male from Fairhope, who is not being named, was behind the wheel of the car at 10am when it suddenly lurched forward and struck the kids.

He is now undergoing voluntary testing for drugs and alcohol, but police chief Ed Delmore told CNN that police did not believe there was criminal intent.

‘Every indication is that it was a tragic accident by an elderly man,’ he said.

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