Written by By Caroline Linton, CNN
Hundreds of people in the small Wisconsin city of Waukesha watched in shock as a dark SUV smashed into a crowd gathered to celebrate the city’s annual Christmas parade.
The crash took place at the end of the 42nd annual parade when a black pickup truck slammed into the crowd, police said.
“The victim was underneath the Jeep Cherokee that had just been hit,” a Waukesha police officer told WTMJ. “There was no time to do anything about it.”
Nearly two dozen people were sent to the hospital, including some who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Waukesha Police Lt. Michael Metzler said. Police have not yet said what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
“There were bloodstains on the asphalt,” Metzler said. “They were absolutely horrendous.”
Waukesha News reporter Russell Watts, who was covering the parade on Thursday, shared images taken from the scene of the crash.
The event was crowded with people enjoying the 12-mile-long procession down the city’s main downtown street.
Shane Morrison, a principal at Driscoll Catholic High School in Waukesha, tweeted about the injuries. “The horrific scene is under investigation.”
Morrison told CNN that he witnessed the incident. He said he rushed to the scene as soon as he heard a loud sound.
Police arrested the driver, 34-year-old Brooke Seelye, who faces charges of “serious injury by vehicle,” Waukesha Police Capt. Brian Zalewski said.
Check back with CNN for the latest.