A Wisconsin family visiting New Orleans experienced a chilling close call with tragedy, as reported by WTMJ.
Fond du Lac County resident Jodi Schrauth, her brother Jeff Narges, and nephew Carson Narges were in the French Quarter hours before a terrorist drove a truck through a crowd on New Year’s Eve. The family was in town to support Schrauth’s son, who plays for Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day, left the normally vibrant French Quarter eerily quiet. Schrauth described the bustling scene earlier on Bourbon Street as being filled with “cheers and laughter.” The horrifying events that followed turned what had been a joyous celebration into a nightmare.
“I couldn’t really believe it,” said Narges, still grappling with the reality of the situation. Schrauth recalled their proximity to the site of the attack, saying, “The Walgreens, the CVS—that was where we were. So I’m still—it’s still just shocking.”
Narges questioned the circumstances that allowed such an attack to happen. “There should be no way a vehicle can get on Bourbon Street at three in the morning when people are partying. There should be absolutely no way,” he said.
While expressing gratitude that they were not near the scene during the attack, the family’s thoughts remain with those who were impacted. “You look at how precious life is. So many people lost their lives,” Schrauth said.
Their reflections are a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of safety in public spaces. For the full story, visit WTMJ.
