Truck crash kills girl at N.C. holiday parade

Atruck pulling a float for a holidayparade in North Carolinacrashed Saturday, strikingand killing a girl participatingin the event, news outletsreported.

Thedriver who lost control ofthe vehicle and struck the childwas arrested and chargedwith reckless driving andother offenses, the RaleighPolice Department saidin a news release. Police identifiedthe driver as LandenChristopher Glass, 20.

Witnessestold WTVD-TV thatpeople attending the RaleighChristmas Parade heardthe pickup truck’s driverscreaming that he had lostcontrol of the vehicle and couldn’tstop it before the crash.

Thegirl struck by the truck waspart of a dance troupe participatingin the holiday parade,The News & Observer reported.

OliviaBruce, a 14-year-old memberof the dance troupe, toldthe newspaper that the truckalmost hit her, too.

“Westarted dancing in the parade,and then all of a sudden,we just heard a lot of honking.And when we turnedback, we saw the truck almoston our backs, so we turnedaway,” Olivia said.

Nobodyelse at the parade wasinjured in the collision.

RaleighMayor Mary-Ann Baldwinexpressed her condolencesfor the girl’s family and friends.

“Todaystarted off with suchjoy,” the mayor tweeted. “Myheart was so full. And nowit aches for the young girl hitin a tragic accident on the paraderoute.”