NEW ORLEANS — An 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, and a father of two tragically lost their lives when a white pickup truck careened down Bourbon Street, filled with New Year’s revelers, early Wednesday morning.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the 15 victims of the horrific New Year’s Day incident in New Orleans, but families and friends are beginning to share their stories. The New Orleans Coroner stated that names of the deceased will be released following autopsy completions and discussions with next of kin. Approximately 30 individuals sustained injuries in the attack.
Zion Parsons, who celebrated New Year’s Eve in Gulfport, Mississippi, recounted witnessing the tragedy as a truck barreled down the street, striking his friend, 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux, who had dreams of becoming a nurse. “The truck hit the corner and came barreling through, throwing people like in a movie scene,” Parsons explained. “It hit her and flung her at least 30 feet. I was just lucky to be alive.”
In the midst of the chaos, Parsons described a gruesome scene filled with injured victims, alarming noises, and an overwhelming sense of panic. “Bodies were everywhere, people were screaming and crying,” he said. “It was like a war zone.”
Dedeaux was known to be a devoted daughter who diligently cared for her family. She had a job at a hospital and was preparing to start college, determined to fulfill her aspirations of becoming a registered nurse.
Among the deceased was a 37-year-old father of two from Baton Rouge, identified as Reggie Hunter. He was reportedly heading to celebrate New Year’s with family when the tragedy occurred. His cousin shared that Hunter was killed in the incident, and several others were injured.
Also among the victims was 27-year-old Tiger Bech, a former athlete from Louisiana, who was killed in the same attack. Bech had played college football at Princeton University and was previously a standout at St. Thomas More Catholic High School. He was employed as an investment trader in New York before his untimely death.
Bech’s family and friends remembered him as a competitive spirit and a person full of life. Tributes poured in as the news of his tragic passing spread.
Nicole Perez, a single mother in her late 20s, was also among those killed. Recently promoted to manager at a local deli, she balanced her job with parenting her 4-year-old son. The deli owner expressed the profound loss felt by the community and initiated a fundraising campaign to assist with Perez’s funeral and support for her son during this difficult transition.
