March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 48 F

Child Dies In Annapolis Parade

fatal-accident

UPDATE 12:09 July 5, 2013:  The Annapolis Police Department released the following details surrounding the accident:

On July 4, 2013 at approximately 7:11 p.m. officers from Annapolis Police Department responded to a report of an accident involving a vehicle queuing for the Annapolis 4th of July Parade.
 
Officers arrived on scene and discovered that a seven year old boy, Kyle Aldridge of Baltimore, was struck by a trailer being pulled by a GMC van and was severely injured.  The trailer was carrying a motorcycle that performs wheelie simulations for a company called iWHEELiE.COM.  Officers from the Traffic Safety Unit responded to the scene to investigate.
 
Preliminary investigation showed that the boy was sitting on the side of a single axle trailer being pulled by a GMC van.  The van was being operated by the child’s grandfather, Jason Hicks, 43, of Glen Burnie.  While the van was in motion the boy got off the trailer, fell to the ground, and was struck by the tire of the trailer.  He was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
 
Initial information indicates that driver error was not a contributing factor in this accident.  It does not appear that drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident.  Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or with additional information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Ofc. David Higgins with the Traffic Safety Unit at 410-268-9000.
 
Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen met with the family at the hospital last night.  “It’s an unbelievably tragic accident.  Our entire community’s thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

UPDATE 1102am July 5, 2013: The Capital is confirming that the parade participant involved was iWheelie.

UPDATE 1048am July 5, 2013: WJZ is reporting that the child was riding on a parade float and was attempting to get off of the moving trailer, when he fell and was run over by the trailer.  According to several witnesses, iWheelie, a stunt motorcycle attraction, was pulled from the parade line-up just after the incident. We have reached out to iWheelie for a comment and have not received a return call.  iWheelie appears to be a local company and they were a participant in last year’s parade (4th and 5th images in gallery).

Officers from the Annapolis Police Department Traffic Safety Unit are investigating a fatal traffic accident involving a vehicle in the Annapolis 4th of July Parade.

Just after 7 p.m. on the evening of July 4th a seven year old boy fell from a vehicle getting ready to participate in the parade. The vehicle was on Amos Garrett Boulevard, where vehicles were queuing to enter the parade route. The boy was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing. Police are not releasing information on the vehicle or identity of the boy at this time.

iWheelie performing at the 2012 Annapolis Parade. (Photo: Glenn A Miller Photography for Eye On Annapolis)
iWheelie performing at the 2012 Annapolis Parade. (Photo: Glenn A Miller Photography for Eye On Annapolis)
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