One Dead, 1 in Critical Condition After Pickup Truck Plowed Through Crowd at South Florida Pride Parade
A pickup truck drove into a crowd of spectators at an LGBTQ Pride event in Wilton Manors, Florida. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis confirmed one person has died and another is in critical condition. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported at least one other person was injured, but expected to survive.
UPDATE: The President of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus put out a statement Saturday night saying, “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.”
UPDATE: President of the Ft Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus says they believe this was a tragic accident and confirm the driver was a member of their group. @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/RjvcCTE6cl
— Ian Margol (@IanMargolWPLG) June 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/ginambenitez/status/1406403749799735301?s=21
Trantalis said the driver attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by police officers who took him into custody.
Wilton Manors is just north of Fort Lauderdale. The truck reportedly narrowly missed striking the car in which Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) was riding, preparing to participate in the parade.
“This is a terrorist attack against the LGBT community,” Trantalis told WPLG Local 10. “This is exactly what it is. Hardly an accident. It was deliberate, it was premeditated, and it was targeted against a specific person. Luckily they missed that person, but unfortunately, they hit two other people.”
BREAKING: At least 2 people have been hit by a truck at the beginning of the @WiltonManorsCty #Pride parade. @delarosaWPLG was only yards away at the time. He spoke with @DeanTrantalis. @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/CRRmGz0a12
— Ian Margol (@IanMargolWPLG) June 19, 2021
Watch above, via WPLG Local 10.
