An Ohio teenager was the fatal victim of a Memorial Day parade accident after the 13-year-old fell off a trailer on Monday.
The City of Green Division of Fire said in a Facebook post that the boy was seen riding on a trailer that was being pulled by the driver of a pickup truck. Witnesses saw the teenager fall from the front of the trailer and critically injured.
Memorial Day Tragedy
Emergency personnel then responded to the scene and transported the 13-year-old boy to Akron Children's Hospital, where they pronounced him dead. The victim's name was not immediately released to the public but he was said to be a North Canton City Schools student.
The incident comes after Green's Memorial Day parade began on Monday at around 10:00 a.m. and the city's Memorial Day ceremony followed as scheduled. Ohio state Rep. Casey Weinstein released a statement, saying, "My heart goes out to the family of this child - and the entire Green community," according to CBS News.
The Summit County Sheriff's Office also noted that an investigation into the case is still ongoing and referred to the death as a "tragic accident." After the teenager fell from the trailer, the parade ended immediately.
Green Mayor Rocco Yeargin said they are looking to support the family of the victim in any way they can. He added that the Green school district offered to provide counseling support to the North Canton school district.
Following the accident, the teenage boy's family and friends have been left grieving the loss of their loved one, particularly during an event that was meant to be celebrated. The incident caused some people to wonder if the community is doing enough to keep children safe during public events, ABC News reported.
The Death of a Teenage Boy
This comes as floats, trailers, and parades are fun but also carry potential risks to participants, particularly the younger audiences. Many people feel that Memorial Day should never be remembered because of a heartbreaking incident.
As the community reflects on the tragedy, residents should turn their focus on what can be done to better protect kids and participants at community events moving forward. There are concerns that during times of celebration, safety measures are typically the last thing on people's minds.
People are urging parents to keep a close eye on their children and other family members during public events, especially when in crowded areas. Another thing to keep an eye on is moving vehicles, which pose a major risk, as per the Times of India.
