SPRINGFIELD — UPDATE @ 7:36 p.m.:
The mother of the 16-year-old girl who fell off a float and was pinned by one of its tires spoke with News Center 7 Reporter Sean Cudahy today.
Starr Huff said she witnessed her daughter pinned under the CSL Plasma float Monday morning in Springfield.
“I was crying. I couldn’t contain myself. All I saw was my daughter laying underneath the float with the tire on top of her,” said Huff. “I just ran to her. My heart was beating so fast. I was scared and petrified. That’s my baby.”
She said she was at the end of the float on the driver side and her daughter was sitting on the passenger side of the float.
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Someone asked the girl if she could get out of the float to help pass out candy and flyers, said Huff. She said she thinks her daughter fell from the float because she was wearing flip-flops.
The tire went over her leg and onto her abdomen, Huff said.
“She was screaming at the top of her lungs,” said Huff.
First responders said it was challenging to get the girl to the hospital because of the crowds from the parade.
The girl did not suffer any broken bones but her mother said she has bruises on the back of her leg and her ankle was swollen. She described her leg as looking very deformed.
“At first I felt surrounded by too many people,” Huff said about the number of people who swarmed to help her daughter.
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She said one nurse in particular at the scene kept her calm.
The float had only traveled about two blocks before the accident happened, according to Huff.
Huff said she wants everyone to be careful when they are riding on parade floats.
UPDATE @ 10:41 a.m.:
A 16-year-old girl was transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center after she fell from a float after it detached from the vehicle towing it in Monday’s Memorial Day parade in Springfield, authorities.
According to firefighters, the girl fell from float and the float ran over her pinning her briefly underneath.
The girl’s injuries are not considered life threatening, firefighters said.
Authorities said several bystanders rushed to lift the float off the girl.
The incident was reported around 9:50 a.m. near the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Ward Street.
INITIAL REPORT:
A person was reportedly injured after a trailer possibly came loose during an incident at Fountain Avenue and Ward Street on the Memorial Day parade route, according to initial reports from Springfield police.
Initial reports indicated the victim was alert and conscious and may have a leg injury.
The incident was reported around 9:50 a.m. Monday.
We’re working to learn more.
