Two people were killed and 23 injured after a motorist drove into a street full of revellers during the South By South-West festival.
The driver, whose name has not yet been released, has been apprehended and is facing multiple charges, including 2 counts of murder.
The incident occurred around 12:30 am on Thursday, after an Austin police officer conducting sobriety checks at a gas station near downtown pulled over a driver.
The driver proceeded to speed away from the officer conducting the check, leaving the gas station and driving the wrong way down a one-way street toward a crowded strip of bars and clubs on Austin’s Red River street.
With police on chase, the driver broke through barricades and drove onto Red River street, which was closed to automobile traffic and filled with pedestrians, striking 21 people as per reports by Wired.
After passing a block, he hit a man and a woman on a moped, and then a taxi cab with two people inside.
After colliding with the taxi and crashing his car, the driver fled on foot and was caught by police.
Both of the people on the moped were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Five of the injured are in critical condition. The rest of the wounded were either treated and released at the scene or taken to the hospital for observation.
The block of Red River street where the incident occurred is home to two popular venues, Cheer Up Charlie’s and The Mohawk, both of which were hosting music shows and filled to capacity. Scores of people were lined up outside, waiting to get in to see the final acts of the night when the incident occured.
The other 23 injured people were taken to three local hospitals; five were in critical condition early Thursday morning. The unidentified driver will be charged with 23 counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle, police told CTV news.
Meanwhile Mashable's entertainment editor posted this on Twitter:
Many events were cancelled, moved, or postponed, especially those at the venues on Red River next to where the investigation is taking place by the police.
What is SXSW?
South by South-West is a huge multi-media event held in Austin, Texas. 2013 featured Lucy Rose, Laura Mvula and Jared Leto's band Thirty Seconds To Mars.
The SXSW film festival has documentary and independent filmmakers all come together to show off their skills.
SXSW also saw Steve Mackey, Mark Webber and Jarvis Cocker arrive for the premiere of their new film, Pulp.
SXSW has comedy too.
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Other highlights from the schedule include a look at how the weather affects what we buy, a look at online privacy, and Lena Dunham talking about the females in her TV show GIRLS and how they're not getting offered nearly as many roles as Adam Driver.
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(With inputs from agencies)
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