“People were really distraught and some people were crying,” said Rolli, who explained that the crash happened in an area where the floats were lining up, so there weren’t as many parade-goers. In the confusion, it was unclear what happened. Rolli was on the other side of the float and didn’t witness the crash, but jumped off immediately and ran to the victims.
GAY PRIDE PARADE FLORIDA TRUCK DRIVER
The driver continued across all lanes of traffic, ultimately crashing into a fence on the other side of the street, police said. Trantalis said the driver of a pickup truck suddenly accelerated when he was told he was next in the parade, crashing into the victims. Rolli was on the float in front of the chorus truck along with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and other city officials at a staging area where the floats were being readied. To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community,” President Justin Knight said in a statement Sunday, calling it “an unfortunate accident.” “Our fellow Chorus members were those injured and the driver is also a part of the Chorus family. The driver and the victims were a part of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus family, a small 25-member group of mostly older men.
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The demonstrations proved to be a turning point in the LGBTQ community's struggle for civil rights.“The early investigation now indicates it looks like it was a tragic accident, but nobody’s saying finally what it is,” Rolli told The Associated Press in a phone interview. June is Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots sparked by repeated police raids on a popular gay bar in New York. Be sure to hug the ones you love tonight.' 'Our prayers are with the victims and their families. 'This tragedy took place within feet of me and my (Broward Sheriff's Office) team, and we are devastated having witnessed this horrific incident,' he said.
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Police tweeted Saturday night that the parade was canceled due to a 'tragic event.' The department said the public is not in danger.īroward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said on Facebook that he had also been at the scene. 'All of us here all praying for them and their families.' 'I'm lucky to be safe, but at least two people were hit and are in critical condition,' she wrote. Meanwhile, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was also at the parade, and sent out a message to her followers after the tragedy. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is comforted after a truck drove into a crowd of people during The Stonewall Pride Parade She was seen in tears as first responders arrived on the scene and administered CPR to a person laying on the road. Debbie Wasserman Schultz had been in attendance at the parade and missed being hit by the truck by 'a matter of inches'. The driver allegedly told police 'that his foot became stuck between the gas pedal and the brake causing him to lose control of the vehicle', CBS 4 reported.ĭemocratic U.S. We anticipate more details to follow and ask for the community's love and support.' 'To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community. 'Our fellow Chorus members were those injured and the driver was also a part of the Chorus family. Justin Knight, the chorus' president, said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic accident that occurred when the Stonewall Pride Parade was just getting started.
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The driver's pick-up truck was adorned with a rainbow flag, and he was wearing a Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus t-shirt.Ī spokesman for the Chorus told WLPG that those injured were members of the choir, and the driver was 'part of the Chorus family.' However, later in the evening reports began to surface that the incident may have been a tragic accident. Police say it is unclear whether the man acted deliberately. The tragedy occurred 7pm Saturday evening in Wilton Manors, 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, just as The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival began.Īccording to Local 10, a man behind the wheel of a white pick-up truck was lined up with other floats ready for the parade when he hit the gas and plowed into participants.
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One person is dead, and another is in a critical condition after a driver slammed into spectators at a Pride parade in Florida.