Standing motionless with a hand covering her mouth, a woman stares at the lifeless body at her feet.

As blood pools out below, a security guard from a local bar attempts to drag her away.

But she refuses to leave, alone and frozen by the horror in the middle of Bourbon Street, New Orleans.

Just moments earlier, the now bare road where she stands, the hub of the city’s legendary bar scene and drinkers’ paradise, had been packed with throngs of party-goers celebrating the new year.

But at around 3.15am, a man driving a white Ford pickup truck drove around the barriers erected to protect the public, put his foot down and rammed into the crowd.

At least 10 people were killed and 35 others were injured. The victims were mostly locals rather than tourists, officials said.

After speeding down the one-way street, the vehicle crashed outside the four-star Royal Sonesta Hotel between Bienville and Conti Streets, the hood of the truck crumpled.

Photos showed what looked like a black cloth or flag that authorities believe may have been linked to Islamic State, the terror group known for its opposition to alcohol, dancing and hedonism of any kind.

In the immediate aftermath, Jimmy Cothran described how he had moments earlier been walking down Bourbon Street towards Canal Street when he noticed “a lot of commotion” and slipped into a nearby nightclub.

When a group of women ran inside and started hiding under tables, he initially thought they were being chased or shot at and went up to the nightclub’s balcony to see what was happening.