Pickup truck plows into Fort Lauderdale Pride parade killing one, injuring two and narrowly missing Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Police say 'unclear yet if driver acted intentionally'
One person is dead, and another is in a critical condition after a driver slammed into spectators at a Pride parade in Florida.
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.
According 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.
Police say it is unclear whether the man acted deliberately.
However, later in the evening reports began to surface that the incident may have been a tragic accident. 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.
A spokesman for the Chorus told WLPG that those injured were members of the choir, and the driver was '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.
'Our fellow Chorus members were those injured and the driver was also a part of the Chorus family.
'To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community. We anticipate more details to follow and ask for the community's love and support.'
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.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz had been in attendance at the parade and missed being hit by the truck by 'a matter of inches'. She was seen in tears as first responders arrived on the scene and administered CPR to a person laying on the road.
One person is dead, and another is in a critical condition after a pick-up truck driver slammed into spectators at the start of a Pride parade in Florida
Police and firefighters responded to the scene shortly after 7pm on Saturday. One person has been declared dead, two others were injured
The driver was taken into custody, by police. He has not yet been charged. Local 10 reported he had a rainbow flag on his pick-up truck and was wearing a Gay Men's Chorus t-shirt
Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was in attendance at the event, and the driver is reported to have 'narrowly' missed hitting her as he plowed into the participants
Chris Caputo, a city commissioner in Wilton Manors, tweeted late Saturday that it was 'increasingly probable it was an accident.'
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, before the statement by the choir, Mayor Dean Trantalis told The Sun Sentinel: 'This was a terrorist attack against the LGBTQ community. He [the driver of the truck] came here to destroy people. This was clearly no accident.'
At sundown on Saturday, investigators were seen scouring the scene for clues.
While several witnesses overheard the driver tell police it was an accident, one spectator told The Sun Sentinel 'it was definitely an intentional act right across the lanes of traffic.'
'All of a sudden there was a loud revving of a truck and a crash through a fence,' the spectator told the paper.
A Local10 reporter shared this image, purportedly showing the white pick-up truck after it plowed into the participants and ended up in a nearby nursery
Bystanders came to the aid of one injured man who was seen lying in the middle of the road after the pick-up plowed through
Rep. Wasserman Schultz tweeted late Saturday: 'I am deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost and others seriously injured at tonight's Stonewall #Pride Parade. My staff, volunteers and I are thankfully safe.'
She added: 'I want to thank our first responders for their heroic efforts as both police and emergency medical personnel stepped into action quickly.'
'We're praying for the victims and their loved ones as law enforcement investigates, and I am providing them with whatever assistance I can. I am so heartbroken by what took place at this celebration. May the memory of the life lost be for a blessing.'
Stunned spectators were seen fleeing after the car plowed through the crowd
Police and first responders were seen as a man lay on the road following the crash
A pair of shoes were seen on the road which was roped off by police shortly after the incident
Police tried to clear participants and spectators off the road as an investigation into the crash commenced
A cop car - which had the words 'Policing With Pride' splayed across its front - was seen in the area after the tragedy
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is comforted after a truck drove into a crowd of people during The Stonewall Pride Parade
Meanwhile, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was also at the parade, and sent out a message to her followers after the tragedy.
'I'm lucky to be safe, but at least two people were hit and are in critical condition,' she wrote.
'All of us here all praying for them and their families.'
Police tweeted Saturday night that the parade was canceled due to a 'tragic event.' The department said the public is not in danger.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said on Facebook that he had also been at the scene.
'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.
'Our prayers are with the victims and their families. Be sure to hug the ones you love tonight.'
June is Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots sparked by repeated police raids on a popular gay bar in New York. The demonstrations proved to be a turning point in the LGBTQ community's struggle for civil rights.
Wasserman Schultz appeared distressed as she sat in a convertible following the tragedy. According to reports, she narrowly avoided being struck by the driver
A float is seen laying abandoned after the parade was cancelled due to the tragedy
Rep. Wasserman Schultz tweeted late Saturday: 'I am deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost and others seriously injured at tonight's Stonewall #Pride Parade. My staff, volunteers and I are thankfully safe'
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June 20, 2021
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