Car plows into parade crowd, killing four

Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla.

A woman suspected of driving under the influence plowed into a crowd Saturday during the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, killing four people – including a toddler – and injuring dozens more after a collision that sent some spectators flying through the air.

Stillwater police Capt. Kyle Gibbs said the woman’s Hyundai Elantra struck an unoccupied motorcycle of an officer who was working security at the parade, then went into the crowd. She was taken into custody, and Gibbs said investigators were awaiting the results of blood tests to determine if she was impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Oklahoma University Medical Center and The Children’s Hospital announced in a statement Saturday night that a 2-year-old was the latest to die from injuries from the morning crash. Five children and three adults remained hospitalized with conditions ranging from good to critical, officials said. Gibbs later confirmed the 2-year-old was a boy and that 44 people were injured.

Police said Adacia Chambers, 25, of Stillwater, was arrested on the DUI charge.

“We treat these like we would any homicide investigation,” Gibbs said. “It’ll probably take several days to get additional information as to the cause of the accident.”

Chambers’ father, Floyd Chambers of Oologah, told The Oklahoman newspaper he couldn’t believe his daughter was involved and insisted she was not an alcoholic. He described his daughter as “timid” and said she had attended homecoming festivities Friday night with family members but that her boyfriend had told him she was home by 10 p.m.

“This is just not who she is. They’re going to paint her into a horrible person but this is not [her],” Floyd Chambers told the paper.

A woman who answered a call to a phone number listed for Floyd Chambers told The Associated Press no one was available to talk.

Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis said there had been discussion about canceling the homecoming game Saturday afternoon against Kansas, but it was played as scheduled. The victims were remembered with a moment of silence before kickoff, and most of the OSU players knelt on the sideline in prayer.

Phone calls to Oklahoma State officials were not immediately returned.

The university posted on Twitter: “Oklahoma State University is saddened by the tragic parade incident earlier this morning. Our thoughts & prayers are with those affected.”