The driver was administered a DUI test on the scene, which he passed. Both victims were taken to the hospital, where one was pronounced dead and the other remained in critical but stable condition. The two people hit were also members of the Gay Men’s Chorus. “After striking the pedestrians, the driver continued across all lanes of traffic, ultimately crashing into the fence of a business on the westside of the street.” “As the vehicle began to move forward in anticipation for the start of the parade, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly, striking two pedestrians,” the statement read. A driver in a white pickup truck lined up with other vehicles taking part in the parade and then suddenly accelerated, striking spectators, witnesses said.įort Lauderdale police said in a statement Sunday that the driver was a 77-year-old member of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus who “had ailments preventing him from walking the duration of the parade” and was selected to drive the lead vehicle. The incident occurred during the Stonewall Pride Parade in Wilton Manors, a neighborhood about 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. NY TIMES ESTIMATES WEALTHY AMERICANS ARE REFUSING TO PAY $1.A driver who plowed into a Pride parade near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, killing one person and critically injuring another, accidentally crashed into the crowd, officials said Sunday. PRINCIPAL ESCORTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AFTER DELIVERING FIERY SPEECH RACIAL CONTROVERSY ERUPTS AROUND ROYALS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE “As the facts continue to be pieced together, a picture is emerging of an accident in which a truck careened out of control,” he said.
I feared it could be intentional based on what I saw from mere feet away,” he said in a statement Sunday. I reported what I saw to law enforcement and had strong concerns about what transpired - concerns for the safety of my community. “I was an eyewitness to the horrifying events. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who is the city’s first openly gay mayor, initially called it a “terrorist attack against the LGBT community.”Īmerica is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Immediately following the deadly crash, there was speculation it was an intentional act aimed at the gay community. A DUI investigation showed no signs of impairment.
Police said no arrests have been made and the driver of the truck remained on the scene and has cooperated with authorities. We thank our community for your patience as investigators worked diligently to examine this incident to uncover the facts of this case, and to provide answers to those involved, and to our community,” the Wilton Manors Police Department said in a statement Sunday. “Today we know yesterday’s incident was a tragic accident, and not a criminal act directed at anyone, or any group of individuals. The driver was a participant who had ailments preventing him from walking in the parade and was chosen to drive as the lead vehicle. Police say the driver, a 77-year-old man, and both pedestrians were members of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus. The second victim suffered serious injuries. Two men were transported to the hospital where one was later pronounced dead. MLB TEAM ANNOUNCES IT WILL WEAR LGBTQ+ LOGO ON CAPS, UNIFORMS TO HONOR PRIDE MONTH IN HONOR OF PRIDE MONTH, GOOGLE CELEBRATES LGBTQ+ ACTIVIST FRANK KAMENY ‘KEEP YOUR PRIDE,’ ACTIVISTS TELL COMPANIES DONATING TO ANTI-LGBTQ+ CAUSES WISCONSIN COUPLE ORDERED TO TAKE DOWN PRIDE FLAG FIND BRILLIANT SOLUTION There was speculation shortly after the accident that it may have been intentional.Ī deadly incident at a South Florida Pride parade in which a pickup truck ran over two people was a “tragic accident” and not an intentional act, according to police.Īuthorities said a white pickup truck was in the staging area before the start of the Stonewall Pride Parade in Wilton Manors, Fla., Saturday, when the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and hit two pedestrians before ultimately crashing into a fence.īURGER KING DECLARES WAR ON CHICK-FIL-A OVER LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AND CHICKEN SANDWICHES.Police say the driver, a 77-year-old man, and both pedestrians were members of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus.
Authorities said a white pickup truck was in the staging area before the start of the Stonewall Pride Parade in Wilton Manors, Fla., Saturday, when the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and hit two pedestrians.