Fort lauderdale gay pride parade 2021 driver#
Newton said that the driver was asked by someone else to move his truck up a little bit.
He also asked for prayers for the driver and assured people it was an accident. “To see someone lying there is just heartbreaking.” He said he assumed this was “some sort of act of aggression. He says he was right at the location of the crash when it happened and he praised first responders. “It was just wonderful to be out again, after the pandemic,” he continued. “This is a moment for the community to come together again,” said Senior Minister Rev. Candles and flowers lined the stage while attendees embraced each other as they entered the church. The program began with a piano and violin duet playing somber music as two screens behind the stage showed an image of a rainbow Pride flag at half-staff. 1/ /FEZSsMFIhd- Austen Erblat June 20, 2021Ībout 50 people gathered at the Fort Lauderdale church on Sunday evening, including Trantalis and Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton. He initially thought it was an intentional but now knows it was an accident. THREAD: I’m at Sunshine Cathedral where Mayor is speaking at a vigil for the person killed at the Pride Parade in Fort Lauderdale near Wilton Manors yesterday. Michael Albetta, a Fort Lauderdale resident and regional director of the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus, saw it all firsthand.Īlbetta was at the front of the parade standing next to Trantalis and Deutch. Wasserman Schultz was seen in tears minutes after the incident as she was comforted by Congressman Ted Deutch. The driver came within inches of hitting a convertible that was to drive Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz through a parade route that was to start in Fort Lauderdale and move through Wilton Manors, the LGBTQ-friendly town to the north. “We look forward to filling your senses again with the power of music.” We all grieve in our way and when the time is right, we will celebrate the life of our past Chorus member and offer gratitude to everyone that showed compassion and forgiveness,” the statement said, in part. “The Chorus is not in attendance tonight, but we are here in spirit. Knight declined to comment Sunday, but at a vigil on Sunday night, Robert Boo, CEO of Pride Center at Equality Park, read a statement from the Chorus: As the Chorus family mourns together, we thank the community for their love and understanding.” The group posted a message on Facebook Sunday morning: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death and injuries that occurred as a result of an unfortunate accident at the start of the Stonewall Pride Parade. No further details were given on the driver’s health condition Sunday.Īll three men were members of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, said Justin Knight, the group’s president. The driver has not been arrested and has been cooperating with police, she added. It then crossed all traffic lanes and crashed into the fence of a plant nursery on the west side of the street.Ī DUI investigation was conducted onsite and the driver showed no signs of impairment, Fort Lauderdale Detective Ali Adamson said. As the truck began to edge forward to start the parade, it accelerated, hitting the two pedestrians. The truck was stopped in the staging area, awaiting the start of the parade. The driver was wearing a Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus T-shirt and had a large Pride flag on his 2011 white Dodge Ram. Both victims were taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where one died. Police have not released the names of the driver or the men he hit. Fort Lauderdale police continue to investigate the fatal crash that interrupted the start of the Wilton Manors Stonewall Parade and Festival around 7 p.m.