Too bad it had to be in reference to a terrible happening.
....or...was that the intent?
We report, you decide.
FMCDH(BITS)
There are no hand hold and no guard rails. Nine year olds are too fidgety to be on a float like that.
One pothole and some kid is going to roll off.
9-year-old Thomas Fogarty was riding on the float with his Cub Scout troop moments before he was killed.
Fogarty died after he was run over by this float in Portsmouth's annual holiday parade Saturday.
ping
OMG, I can't imagine dealing with something like this as a parent or the person who was driving/pulling the float. I have a 9 year old that is a Cub Scout and I would die if anything happened to him.
As an aside, a float in the local Christmas parade in Anderson, SC this past weekend was driven by an extremely drunk driver, who once through the parade route, was said to have driven off at about 50-60 MPH with a number of children and adults on the float screaming for him to stop; the float was said to have become airborne when it bumped over a train track. The driver was arrested and faces a number of charges including child endangerment, kidnapping, DWI, and a number of others. Fortunately, no one was hurt...this could have been a disaster of the worst magnitude.
How horrible. Our cub scout pack wouldn't allow the boys to ride on any floats, etc., for fear of this very thing happening.
I can't imagine the pain of losing a young man like this. Extra prayers being said tonight for this family.
From BSA National Standards / SAFETY.....
"Parade Floats and Hayrides
The BSA rule prohibiting the transportation of passengers in the backs of trucks or on trailers may be tempered for parade floats or hayrides, provided that the following points are strictly followed to prevent injuries:
1. Transportation to and from the parade or hayride site is not allowed on the truck or trailer.
2. Those persons riding, whether seated or standing, must be able to hold on to something stationary.
3. Legs should not hang over the side.
4. Flashing lights must illuminate a vehicle used for a hayride after dark, or the vehicle must be followed by a vehicle with flashing lights."
Looks like the local Scout folks have some explaining to do if requirements #2 and/or #3 were not complied with...
This is SO SAD!
Prayers for the family!!!!
I'm terribly sorry about this boy's tragic death. As a veteran of six Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, we were always wearing safety harnesses while the float was in motion. The tether attached to the harnesses was too short to permit the rider to reach the ground.
What a horrible story.