Boy killed by a float in the parade & # 39; & # 39 in Santa Claus, Yarmouth, N.S.

Girl & # 39; four & # 39; years is dead after falling & # 39; under the float Saturday night in & # 39; & # 39 paradeta of; Santa Claus in & # 39; Yarmouth, N.S., police said.

"Very tragic accident, traumatic for everyone who was involved in the parade and in the" scene, said Cpl. Dal Hutchinson, of the RCMP & # 39; Nova Scotia.

"My opinion there were many people nearby when this occurred. So our thoughts are now with the family & # 39; this descent, since it is a very difficult time, but also with the community, with & # 39; people who were there to watch the parade. "

The accident happened just before 7 p.m. near the intersection of & # 39; Main Street and Starr Road in & # 39; Yarmouth, about an hour after the start of the Christmas Parade & # 39; Yarmouth a & # 39; Lights.

"She was not on the float. She was running alongside the moving float when dropped below the float," said Hutchinson.

The police did not rilaxxatx the name of the child.

But on Sunday afternoon, the Regional Center for Education & # 39; Tri-County announced that the girl was a student pre-primary.

F & # 39; email, the center said that the members of the team of crisis management will be in school Tuesday of & # 39; morning (Monday was scheduled for students schedule) to provide support staff and students.

"All in & # 39; blow, we just heard screaming"

Vance Webb, maġista withdrawn to live in the outskirts of & # 39; Yarmouth, attended the parade on Saturday with & # 39; his wife, stepson and three grandchildren.

"We were just see the parade, and then about 30 feet & # 39; away, listening & # 39; – f & # 39; suddenly, the float stop, and I see something on the ground," said Webb The Canadian Press in & # 39; telephone interview.

"Then in & # 39; suddenly, we just heard screaming. It was quite close to us."

Webb said that the whole scene dropped in & # 39; "mayhem" as people looked what happened.

"People within 50 feet of it – none of us m & # 39; is good. All adults were booming. Everywhere I saw, there were hundreds of & # 39; people crying," said Webb. "This is really gonna affect the city."

F & # 39; & # 39 subsequent interview, CBC News, Webb noted that there were cars parked on both sides of the road during the parade. He said that people were standing on the road before the car to look better.

"I have never seen before in the parade," said Webb. "Only reduced visibility and created a narrow point in the road and we felt that was not good, from the beginning."

To make safe the parade next year, Webb suggested that volunteers walk alongside the floats to ensure that no one goes too close. He also suggested that the parade during daylight hours also can & # 39; make it safer.

"M & # 39; INIX sure if that contributed to it, but that is a possibility," said Webb.

The parade organizers, known as the Parade of Christmas Lights, addressed the situation in & # 39; Facebook post on Sunday morning, said they were "devastated by the traumatic incident."

"We, together with the community, the family's fight" [sic] loss and are asking for everyone affected. The focus is on come together as a community and help each family during this very difficult time, "the post read.

"Great tragedy"

The girl was treated immediately by officials of the RCMP and Health Services & # 39; Emergency. It was taken at the Regional Hospital & # 39; Yarmouth, where she was pronounced dead.

Mayor Pam Mood was in the parade led by the community, but said it is now time to join the community.

"This is a great tragedy, something that can never & # 39; even dream of them", said the mood to CBC News.

"So now, this whole community is sad [and] very concerned for the family, first responders, anyone involved in & # 39; what. The community is just spending our time consuming each other and assure that everyone is good. "

Mood says thousands of & # 39; people watch the parade every year. She said that the parade has been an annual tradition in the city for about 20 years.

She says that the mayors and colleagues from across Nova Scotia reached the offer of support of the city. The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences to the city.

Sean Mills, father and fisherman from Yarmouth, began to campaign & # 39; & # 39 collection; funds to go to funeral expenses.

"It's just a tragedy, it is a terrible incident. We all have kids and it could & # 39; it was one of our kids, we were all in the parade on the night," said Mill.

Mills said he knows the money will not make the family feel better, but said it would ease the financial burden.

"I have a child roughly the same age and it is terrible news, m & # 39; there is no good thing in it", he said.

"I think the whole community generally feel the same way, they know it is terrible. It is supposed to be a good time of the year and only tragedy and turn around completely."

Seeking help

Hutchinson said he knew that there were many people who saw the incident and suggested that people may want to reach assistance, including first responders, will be offered assistance upon request.

"If you're struggling with & # 39; what I saw, it is very important to talk about it and deal with some help to deal with those feelings", he said.

Specialist reduction of grief will be at the hotel Rodd Grand Yarmouth at 6: 30 p.m. Sunday for anyone who needs to talk about this tragedy.

RCMP spokesman said police are not looking to impose criminal charges.