Trantalis initially told reporters the act was deliberate, adding to the confusion Saturday night. "I was getting phone calls from people I knew at the other end waiting for the parade saying, ‘Is this true? Is that true, do we have anything to worry about?’ You don’t know at that point." "People were really distraught and some people were crying," said Rolli, who explained that the crash happened in an area where the floats were lining up, so there weren’t as many parade-goers. In the confusion, it was unclear what happened. Rolli was on the other side of the float and didn’t witness the crash, but jumped off immediately and ran to the victims.
Trantalis said the driver of a pickup truck suddenly accelerated when he was told he was next in the parade, crashing into the victims. Rolli was on the float in front of the chorus truck along with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and other city officials. To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community," President Justin Knight said in a statement Sunday, calling it "an unfortunate accident."
"Our fellow Chorus members were those injured and the driver is also a part of the Chorus family. The driver and the victims were a part of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus family, a small 25-member group of mostly older men. "The early investigation now indicates it looks like it was a tragic accident, but nobody’s saying finally what it is," Rolli told The Associated Press in a phone interview.įort Lauderdale Police Detective Ali Adamson told reporters that authorities were investigating all possibilities from the collision. Republished with permission.Every June, the LGBTQ+ community and allies celebrate what has become The Associated Press contributed to this report. June is Pride Month, commemorating the June 1969 police raid targeting gay patrons at the Stonewall Inn in New York that led to an uprising of LGBTQ Americans and served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement. “This tragedy took place within feet of me and my (Broward Sheriff’s Office) team, and we are devastated having witnessed this horrific incident.” “Though authorities are still gathering information, we know two individuals marching to celebrate inclusion and equality were struck by a vehicle,” Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said in a statement. Wilton Manors police tweeted Saturday night that the public is not in danger. “It was definitely an intentional act right across the lanes of traffic.” “All of a sudden there was a loud revving of a truck and a crash through a fence,” Currie said. Spectator Christina Currie told the South Florida SunSentinel that she was with her family at the start of the parade.
“May the memory of the life lost be for a blessing.” “I am so heartbroken by what took place at this celebration,” she said. In a statement Saturday night, Wasserman Schultz said she was safe but “deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost.” Debbie Wasserman Schultz in tears while in a convertible at the parade. Photos and video from the scene showed Democratic U.S. Police said the driver was taken into custody, but it was unclear whether he had been charged. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Trantalis said he believed the crash was “deliberate.” Trantalis said a driver of a pickup truck suddenly accelerated when he was told he was next in the parade, crashing into the victims, according to WSVN-TV.