Raleigh Christmas Parade victim dies after getting hit by runaway truck
Jenny Goldsberry
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The 11-year-old dancer who was hit by a truck hauling a float during a Christmas parade in North Carolina died.
Saturday’s Raleigh Christmas Parade saw one GMC Sierra truck lose control as it was hauling the CC & Co. Dance Complex’s float amid roughly 200 young female dancers. The driver was reportedly heard yelling out of the window that he had lost control. The unidentified dancer was injured as a result and was pronounced dead later at a hospital despite receiving emergency care at the scene.
Landen Christopher Glass was identified as the one driving the truck, which was associated with the local dealership Leith Cars. Raleigh Police charged Glass with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, improper equipment, unsafe movement, and carrying a firearm in a parade.
RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE CANCELED AFTER DRIVER LOSES CONTROL, INJURES GIRL
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of the young girl who lost her life today at the Raleigh Christmas Parade,” Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin tweeted. “Our prayers are with her family, friends and the dancers from CC & Co. The community is here for you as we try to understand and process this shared tragedy.”
https://twitter.com/maryannbaldwin/status/1594074725239738368
“In a joyous season on what should be a happy day, we instead mourn for this family and their friends as we keep them in our prayers,” Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) tweeted.
https://twitter.com/NC_Governor/status/1594072866584141830
“Our deepest prayers go out to the family of the young girl who lost her life today at the Raleigh Christmas Parade,” Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) wrote. “We send our love and support to the community and everyone involved in this terrible tragedy.”
https://twitter.com/RepTedBudd/status/1594139525424582656
“We are still in shock as we write these words to you. This morning’s events have devastated us. We also know that many other young ones witnessed this tragedy and that is hard to fathom as well,” the dance company wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday. “We never expected to experience a day like today, and the only thing getting us through is the tremendous love and support we’ve seen expressed among our CC & Co. Dance family.”
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The Raleigh Christmas Parade was celebrating its 78th anniversary after a hiatus in 2020. There were some 80,000 visitors in the area for last year’s parade.