Several dead as car ploughs through Waukesha Christmas parade 

Waukesha: Five people have been killed while over forty sustained injuries after a car ploughed into a parade in the city of Waukesha, west of Milwaukee, at around 16:40 local time (22:40 GMT).  

The incident occurred shortly before 5pm local time, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Footage posted online shows a red Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) driving through a Christmas parade. 

Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said, "A red SUV drove into our Christmas parade that we were holding downtown. More than 20 individuals were injured as a result of this incident".

Mr Thompson said further added that some of the injured were taken to hospital by ambulance, others by police and still more by family and friends.

Authorities have identified a person of interest in the case, he said, without giving further details. 

As per local media, people near downtown Waukesha were being asked to stay sheltered where they were.

In one video posted on social media, a red SUV can clearly be seen appearing in speed towards marchers from behind, then proceeds to drive through them. 

WARNING: Graphic footage

Top-down video footage shows a driver deliberately plowing through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/fo5xXPF12q

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 22, 2021

In a second video, police appeared to open fire on the vehicle as it crashed through street barriers.

Photos and videos circulating on Twitter showed police cars and ambulances crowding a street decked out with Christmas lights after the incident. 

Reportedly, about 10 people including children and adults were on the ground— appeared to have been hit by the vehicle.  

An eye witness said the driver hit the "Dancing Grannies" troupe and at least one person was flipped over the hood of the SUV. Another witness estimated the SUV was travelling at about 65kph when it hit the crowd.