At least two music fans have been killed and 23 injured after a car ploughed into a crowded street at the South By Southwest festival today.

Police in Austin, Texas, say the motor crashed through temporary barricades that were set up for the festival and into the throng of people at around 12.30am.

Austin police chief Art Acevedo revealed officers had tried to stop a man in a grey sedan at a petrol station on suspicion of drink-driving.

 

The man reportedly fled, turning the wrong way down the one-way 9th street and then onto Red River.

 

There his car went through the barricade and struck multiple pedestrians, a taxi and a moped before crashing into a van, police said.

 

Two people were confirmed dead at the scene and 23 others were taken to various hospitals in the area, most with just minor injuries. Around five to seven of them had more serious injuries.

 

Lieutenant Moon of the Austin Police Department told Rolling Stone:'This is extremely unusual. There have been some very rare instances of vehicles striking pedestrians in the entertainment area, but this is the first time it's ever affected a SXSW event.'

 

The driver has been taken into custody and is being investigated for driving under the influence of alcohol.

 

The victims were in line waiting outside the Mohawk club for a show by Californian rapper Tyler, the Creator show, which was canceled in light of the accident.

 

'Show isn't happening, something sad happened. I'm bummed,' he tweeted after the news broke.

 

Eyewitnesses have been quoted as saying that a car had sped through the large crowd, throwing some victims into the air and knocking others down. The driver of the car has been arrested, police said.

 

According to the Austin Police Department, the crash occurred on the corner of East 10th street and Red River.

 

-(CNN)