Boy hurt in fall from parade float

St. Augustine Record, The (FL) December 2, 2007
Section: News

Boy hurt in fall from parade float

Author: TIFFANY PAKKALA; tiffany.pakkala@staugustine.com

Article Text:A small boy is in stable condition after he fell off a float and was run over at the St. Augustine Christmas Parade Saturday, bringing the show to an abrupt halt in front of a crowd of spectators. Onlookers said Jacob Johns, 7, of St. Augustine, had his feet dangling close to a tire on the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation float at about 11:05 a.m. when he became entangled with the tire. "He was kicking his feet and the tire grabbed him and pulled him down," said Bill Mock as rescue workers attended the boy at the corner of Joiner Street and San Marco Avenue where the accident happened. ctxt_ad_css ='http://www.staugustine.com/css/yahoo.css';ctxt_ad_source = 'npc_morris_staugustinerecord_t2_ctxt_test';ctxt_ad_config = '9472395290';ctxt_ad_id = 'news';ctxt_ad_type = 'news';ctxt_ad_interface = 'http://cm.npc-morris.overture.com/js_1_0/';ctxt_ad_url = window.location.href;ctxt_ad_width = 300;ctxt_ad_height = 250; "I almost said something when they went by. I wish I had," Mock said. The trailer, decorated to look like an oversized sleigh, ran over the boy's abdomen after he fell between the deck and cargo rail. The accident happened about an hour into the parade. A nurse and an off-duty rescue worker who were watching the parade rushed to the boy's aid, according to St. Augustine Police. A St. Johns County Fire and Rescue ambulance arrived minutes later, driving up the parade route past all the waiting participants and spectators. St. Augustine Fire Department also responded. The parks float was near the end of the parade. WEB EXTRA Video: 'Young child' run over during parade Jacob, who was lying on the road to the left of the trailer as medical personnel worked on him, was conscious as crews cut off his red Christmas shirt and most of his jeans. They placed a splint on his leg and carefully moved him to a stretcher. The parade, which had been on hold for about 20 minutes, resumed as Jacob was rushed to a landing site, where a helicopter picked him up and flew him to Shands Jacksonville. The hospital listed him in stable condition Saturday afternoon.

Copyright 2007, The St. Augustine Record, All Rights Reserved.

Record Number: 11D4E02AF6A332A8