CEDAR CITY — The mother of a child whose foot was run over by a trailer during Cedar City’s Fourth of July parade on Monday morning says that while she’s grateful that her daughter’s injury wasn’t worse, she hopes future parades will be safer for participants and viewers alike.
“Safety needs to be top priority,” the woman told Cedar City News on Wednesday. She asked that her name not be publicized in order to protect her daughter’s privacy.
“Safety rules need to be implemented, not just suggested,” she added. “Hopefully it’ll help prevent this or something worse from happening to someone else in the future.”
The woman said she and her young daughter were among the many spectators watching the parade from the area in front of the city offices at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, just as the floats and other entries were making the turn from Center Street to Main Street.
On one of the entries, she said, people were handing out small flags and other items from a moving flatbed trailer.
“She saw them handing something to her, so she went up towards the trailer,” the girl’s mother recalled. “Her feet were right in front of the trailer tire and there was nothing I could do but try and yell for the trailer to stop.”
“Before we knew it, my daughter’s foot got caught under the moving tires of the trailer,” the woman added. “The tire rolled over her, causing her to fall, and her ankle and foot were rolled over by the tire.”
They immediately took her to urgent care and found out that she has a broken foot, she said, adding that they plan to see an orthopedic specialist this week to see if she needs surgery.
“My daughter is now doing very good and being very brave,” the mother added. “She is sad to be on crutches and to be missing out on so many summer activities planned, but we are so grateful this did not end up worse.”
“She was very shaken up, as are we,” she added. “We understand accidents happen. However, this was completely preventable if certain safety measures or rules were implemented and followed.”
Meanwhile, in a similar yet far more tragic incident that happened that same morning in the northern Utah community of Kaysville, an 8-year-old girl named Macie Hill died after being run over by a trailer that she and her fellow dancers were riding on during that city’s Fourth of July parade.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear about the child in Kaysville and it makes me sick to think something like that could have happened to my daughter,” the Cedar City mother added. “I agree that parents share a role in responsibility, as well as in regards to watching or being vigilant with their children’s safety at these events, but I assure you, I was. I was literally feet away from my daughter when this all happened, and it all happened so fast, before I could do anything to stop it.”
The mother said they love parades and the Fourth of July, but as the parades get bigger and louder, safety measures need to be pumped up as well.
“We love parades and love the Fourth of July,” the mother added. “But this was so scary and sad to see happen. It was chaotic, stressful and there absolutely should have been more safety guidelines given or followed by those on the floats.”
Cedar City public information officer Gabrielle Costello told Cedar City News that city officials and staff, including representatives from Cedar City Police and other departments, held a debriefing meeting on Wednesday with local Lions Club members and others who were involved in the parade.
“Safety is one of Cedar City’s highest priorities, not only during large-scale events, but every day,” Costello said. “Following the Fourth of July parade, a meeting was held on Wednesday … to discuss how the parade can improve in years to come.”
Many of the parades in Cedar City are planned by volunteers and community groups, he said.
“Which is amazing,” said Costello, adding, “It is our job at the City to support these organizations and encourage safe and responsible participation from the community.”
Cedar City Police Department officials reiterated the importance of spectators staying behind the white line while viewing the parade and not venturing out into the road.
“Although the street is temporarily closed for the event, it needs to be kept clear for parade vehicle traffic,” Costello noted, citing the Police Department’s guidelines. “Officials are discussing ways to create a safe and enjoyable experience when the community comes together to celebrate special events.”
Added Cedar City Police Lt. Clint Pollock: “A safe practice for those in the parade and those attending the parade, is being aware of the moving vehicles and the many people around. Those attending should never approach a float, nor should anyone be handing items from a moving float. We’re thankful that this incident wasn’t more serious.”
“It is our goal to keep everyone safe,” Cedar City Police Chief Darin Adams added. “By keeping an eye on one another, especially children, we can all work together to keep these special community events safe.”
Cedar City Lions Club parade chair Beth Stephenson added in a brief statement: “The Cedar City Lions Club is aware there was an injury at the Fourth of July parade and is working with local law enforcement to ensure that this doesn’t happen again in the future.”
Trailer safety advocate Ron Melancon, who lives in Virginia, has spent more than two decades compiling news articles and data on various types of trailer-related incidents, including those involving hayrides and floats, as well as trailers that are improperly hitched or incorrectly loaded. He operates the website dangeroustrailers.org, which includes extensive lists and links documenting hundreds of such incidents that have happened across the country.
Melancon said he’s baffled as to why there hasn’t yet been any nationwide effort to create and implement commonly established trailer safety standards that utilize best practices.
“A lawyer told me they don’t want a standard,” Melancon told Cedar City News by phone on Wednesday afternoon. “You know why? Because if you have a standard, and you don’t follow it, and someone gets hurt, then people can sue. So I said, ‘So your reaction is to do nothing?’ That’s exactly right. So in other words, you do nothing, and kids get killed.”
“I’m not looking to shut down parades,” Melancon added. “I’m looking to shut down people getting killed by parades.”
Meanwhile, the mother of the girl who was injured in Cedar City’s parade added that she is hopeful that things will be safer moving forward.
“We are so incredibly grateful that things didn’t end up worse or that others weren’t hurt,” she said. “It’s obviously a shared responsibility of the public (parents and onlookers) and the people on the floats and volunteers. But even those following or being proactive about safety were susceptible to danger because of unorganized precautions or lack of implementing safety rules. I hope things are better in the future.”
As many communities throughout Utah will be hosting yet another wave of celebratory parades later this month in honor of the Pioneer Day state holiday on July 24, the following are a few basic parade safety reminders:
- Participants should never attempt to get on or off a float, trailer or vehicle during a parade, especially while it is moving.
- Should it become necessary for someone to exit or enter a float or trailer, make sure the vehicle is completely stopped and that the driver is fully aware of what is happening. Ideally, at least two spotters should be stationed on either side of a float or trailer, walking alongside it and monitoring conditions.
- Inexperienced drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with pulling trailers and other heavy loads, should not operate parade vehicles.
- If candy or other freebies are to be distributed, do not throw them or hand them out from a moving float or vehicle. Instead, have volunteers walk along the edges of the street near the sidewalks and curbs and hand out the items to those in the crowd. Bystanders should not go out into the road to receive or pick up any items.
- While a parade is in progress, spectators should never enter the street past the white lane lines marking the far edge of the traffic lane. Maintain a safe distance from all passing vehicles, horses and other animals.
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