Three injured after woman drives through Harrisburg's KIPONA Festival

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -- Three people were injured after a driver barreled through Harrisburg's KIPONA Festival on Monday night.

Festivities just wrapped at the three day festival when a woman driving a red minivan went through a portion of South Front Street where vendors were closing up after 6 p.m.

A child and two adults, including a woman in a wheelchair, were injured, said Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo. The driver is in custody.

Mayor Wanda Williams is en route to UPMC Harrisburg, and Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter was at the scene of the incident.

"This car came flying down through here fast," said Lottie Beauverd, a vendor at the festival. "Not yelling or anything, but just flying down through this."

abc27 News' Sarah Wilson was there when she said people screamed and ran, describing it as a "chaotic scene."

The vehicle sustained damage to its front bumper and hood, and debris were scattered around the area.

Police have since put up yellow crime tape to close Front Street between the 100 block of State Street to the pedestrian bridge to City Island. Officers were around the vehicle inspecting it.

The city holds KIPONA each year during Labor Day weekend. It began in 1916 as a water carnival to celebrate the completion of the River Steps.

Today, the event brings carnival rides, cultural performances, food and art vendors to Riverfront Park and City Island. A mainstage each year is the festival's Giant Puppet Parade, which offers prizes to participating children.

This year's event ran from Friday, Aug. 30, to Monday, Sept. 1. It was scheduled to end at 6 p.m., just shortly before the car drove through.