Twelve Alabama students were injured when a 73-year-old driver of a Ford Expedition lost control of his SUV and ran over a section of the Gulf Shores High School marching band at a Mardi Gras parade on Tuesday.
According to CNN, three students are in critical but stable condition. The ages of the victims range from 12 to 17, as some of the performers were middle schoolers.
"A couple people got rolled under the actual truck," GSHS senior Jeremy Koonce told CNN affiliate WPMI "I saw people roll out from underneath it, and they were like clutching themselves in pain."
As emergency crews scrambled to arrive on scene, several witnesses said the SUV came to a stop with several students still underneath the vehicle. Gulf Shores authorities have not released the name of the Fairhope, AL, man who was driving the vehicle but did say there was no signs that drugs or alcohol were involved.
The SUV was representing the Military Officers Association of America in the parade and was traveling behind band along the parade route.
"It's going to be a very difficult day," Angie Swiger, a Baldwin County Board of Education member. "It is a tight-knit community. We just ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers."
To see how you can help, please visit the Gulf Shores High Marching Funds GoFundMe page.
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According to CNN, three students are in critical but stable condition. The ages of the victims range from 12 to 17, as some of the performers were middle schoolers.
"A couple people got rolled under the actual truck," GSHS senior Jeremy Koonce told CNN affiliate WPMI "I saw people roll out from underneath it, and they were like clutching themselves in pain."
Vehicle runs through GSHS Marching Band at Mardi Gras Parade pic.twitter.com/tkwG4Yiuoj
— Scott Shamburger (@CSShamburger) February 28, 2017
As emergency crews scrambled to arrive on scene, several witnesses said the SUV came to a stop with several students still underneath the vehicle. Gulf Shores authorities have not released the name of the Fairhope, AL, man who was driving the vehicle but did say there was no signs that drugs or alcohol were involved.
The SUV was representing the Military Officers Association of America in the parade and was traveling behind band along the parade route.
"It's going to be a very difficult day," Angie Swiger, a Baldwin County Board of Education member. "It is a tight-knit community. We just ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers."
To see how you can help, please visit the Gulf Shores High Marching Funds GoFundMe page.
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