Child run over by float in Molalla parade

Story Published: Jul 4, 2010 at 1:30 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 4, 2010 at 3:22 PM PDT

MOLALLA, Ore. – A Life Flight helicopter was called in to a July 4 parade in Clackamas County, whisking away a boy run over Sunday by a parade float.

Molalla Fire Public Information Officer Denise Everhart said a 12-year-old boy was trying to catch candy thrown from a moving float in the Molalla Buckeroo Parade. She said the float was composed of a trailer with a dual wheel.

Everhart said the boy's foot first became caught in the wheel. Then, the float rolled over him.

The accident was reported to Clackamas County 9-1-1 dispatchers at 11:46 a.m.

The annual Fourth of July festivities, including the Molalla Buckaroo Parade, started Sunday at 9:30 a.m. This "Giant Street Parade" runs down Main Street in Molalla – a town of 7,800 residents about 30 miles southeast of Portland.

Everhart said the boy was conscious and alert after the accident. However, she said he "definitely" suffered a broken leg. She also said he was complaining of pain in his lower abdomen.

As a precaution, the boy was transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital by Life Flight, Everhart told KATU. We have sent a photojournalist to the scene, and will follow with further details as they are available.

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Molalla Fire tells us this parade does have a policy of handing out candy from buckets, rather than throwing the candy from floats. He said the boy was working the float that ran over him – chauffeuring candy from the float to the crowd in a bucket.