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In the confusion, it was unclear what happened.
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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. "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. The elderly driver had ailments that prevented him from walking, according to a statement Sunday from Fort Lauderdale Police, who said he was cooperating with the investigation and there was no evidence drugs or alcohol was involved. The 77-year-old driver was taken into custody, but police said no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.
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Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Paul Rolli and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said the early investigation shows it was an accident. A member of a men’s chorus group unintentionally slammed into fellow chorists at the start of a Pride parade in South Florida, killing one member of the group and seriously injuring another, the group's director said Sunday, clarifying initial speculation that it was a hate crime directed at the gay community. Margol also shared a photo on Twitter of the white pickup truck, which was flying a pride flag.FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. WPLG reporter Ian Margol also cited witnesses who heard the truck driver tell police it was an accident. "Be sure to hug the ones you love tonight."ĬBS Miami reported, citing a senior official briefed on the incident, that the driver had told police his foot was stuck between the gas pedal and the brake, causing him to lose control. "Our prayers are with the victims and their families," he said. The other is expected to survive his injuries, police said.īroward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said on Twitter Saturday night he and his deputies were within feet of the crash as it happened. Two people were taken to a hospital after being struck, one of whom died. The white Dodge Ram began to move forward at the staging area as the parade was about to begin, then accelerated suddenly, police said.
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#GAY PRIDE PARADE FLORIDA TRUCK FULL#
He had been chosen to drive the parade's lead vehicle because physical "ailments" left him unable to walk the full length of the route, police said. "As the Chorus family mourns together, we thank the community for their love and understanding."Īccording to Fort Lauderdale police, the driver was cooperating with investigators, and he showed no signs of impairment at the time of the crash. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death and injuries that occurred as a result of an unfortunate accident at the start of the Stonewall Pride Parade," the group said. The driver is a member of the group, along with the victims, police said. The exact cause of the crash remained under investigation on Sunday, but the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus described it as an accident. The incident occurred at the city of Wilton Manors' Stonewall Pride Parade, where several Democratic politicians were in attendance. One person was killed and another injured after a 77-year-old man participating in an LGBTQ Pride parade drove into other participants near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday night, officials said.