Truck plows into crowd near where Georgia fans were staying for the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans

On By Littum

game

NEW ORLEANS —Georgia football fans who traveled here for the Sugar Bowl woke up Wednesday to terrible news of 10 killed and more than 30 injured by truck plowing into crowds on famous Bourbon Street near where they stayed in hotels.

The tragedy came around 3:15 a.m. as the city celebrated the New Year by lighting fireworks off and at the start of a day when Georgia will play Notre Dame at night in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

Eric Iacovazzi of Concord, NC, surveyed the scene outside the Crowne Plaza Astor Hotel, located on Canal Street at Bourbon Street. He was among thousands of Bulldogs fans who traveled to this city to play.

Yellow police tape hung and police cars were parked in and outside the area, some with flashing lights and officers nearby. An Orleans Parrish hearse was also parked.

“Crazy,” said Iacovazzi, wearing a Georgia cap and hoodie.

Georgia football staffer Bryant Gantt had walked the two blocks from the New Orleans Marriott, where the team is staying, to watch the game.

At 12:14 p.m., the University of Georgia’s athletic association issued a statement on social media.

“We are deeply saddened by the senseless violence that occurred in New Orleans. All team personnel and members of the official team travel party have been accounted for,” the UGA athletics association wrote. “We are currently in contact with local law enforcement as well as representatives from the Sugar Bowl and the College Football Playoff and continue to gather more information. Our prayers go out to all those who traveled here for the Sugar Bowl and the entire New Orleans community.”

Authorities had earlier announced at a press conference that of those killed and injured, “it appears that the majority are locals vs. tourists.”

UGA Student Affairs issued a notice Wednesday morning to the police community that authorities in New Orleans are asking those on Bourbon Street, Canal Street and St. Ann Street areas to shelter in place until further notice and that there is “no information indicating that there is any threat to the UGA Campus in Athens.”

Later on the morning of New Year’s Day, the University of Georgia offered a statement about the incident.

“We are horrified and saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day in New Orleans,” the university wrote on X. “University personnel are working to determine if any UGA students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans were among the victims. Our deepest sympathies go out to all the victims and their families, and we stand in solidarity with the New Orleans community.”

The Georgia Redcoat Marching Band was also in town for the game and later shared on social media that all students and staff were safe.

Iacovazzi’s hotel was not evacuated, but others in the area were.

Iacovazzi’s daughter, a senior at the University of Georgia, is with him on the trip. She woke him up to tell him about what happened.

“She woke up and heard all this noise, but she didn’t know what was happening,” he said. “Her grandparents were calling her all night wondering if we were okay.”

Iacovazzi and his daughter had returned to the hotel at 12.15. They were at Caesars casino not far away to ring in the new year.

He had asked her if they wanted to go to Bourbon Street before returning to the hotel, but she didn’t.

Andy Sorrels, 37, a financial adviser from Bogart who also lived at the Crowne Plaza, said he heard about the incident around 6 p.m. 6:25 local time.

“I looked up and got a bunch of text messages,” he said. “People were asking if we were OK. I started looking at Twitter and the news and all that and found out what was going on.”

He had dinner at a hotel restaurant on New Year’s Eve, but did not go to Bourbon Street.

He looked out from a second floor balcony of the hotel for about an hour and a half instead and was in bed at 23.15

“It’s terrible,” he said. “I’m more concerned about the people who were actually affected than how it affects me. It’s horrible that this could actually happen.”

Former Georgia tight end Leonard Pope sat in the lobby of the Sheraton New Orleans, across the street from the Marriott. The Sheraton is also the media hotel for the Sugar Bowl.

Pope woke up to the news after attending a concert with rapper Juvenile on New Year’s Eve and then bought some chocolates and returned to his room.

“We’re praying for their families and hoping things can come together soon,” said Pope, who played in the NFL for seven seasons, including with the Cardinals and Chiefs. “We’re here supporting the Bulldogs and down here we’re also visiting family.”

Pope said he had exchanged messages on a group chat with Charles Grant, David Jacobs, George Foster and Sean Jones.

Wednesday night’s Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal game between Georgia and Notre Dame is scheduled to begin at 20:50 ET

“The Sugar Bowl committee is devastated by the horrific events of early this morning,” Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said in a statement around 10 p.m. 9:00 a.m. ET. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities at the local, state and federal levels and will communicate additional details as they become available.”

(This story has been updated to add new quotes and information.)