Child killed by tank at Santa's parade in Yarmouth, NS

A four-year-old girl died after falling under a tank on Saturday night at a Santa Claus parade in Yarmouth, northern New Jersey, police said.

"A very tragic incident, very traumatic for everyone involved in the parade and on the scene," said Capt. Dal Hutchinson, RCMP in Nova Scotia.

"I understand that a lot of people were nearby when that happened, so we're thinking about this little girl's family right now, because it's a very difficult time, but also at the time." community, with the people who attended the parade. "

The incident occurred just before 7 pm. near the intersection of Main Street and Starrs Road in Yarmouth, about an hour after the start of the Yarmouth Christmas Parade.

Vance Webb, a retired machinist living in the suburbs of Yarmouth, attended the parade on Saturday with his wife, son-in-law and three grandchildren. (Paul Poirier / CBC)

"She was not on the float, she was running along the moving float when she fell under the float," Hutchinson said.

The police did not reveal the name of the child.

But Sunday afternoon, the Regional Education Center of the three counties announced that the girl was a pre-primary student.

In an email, the center said members of its crisis management team would visit schools Tuesday morning (Monday is a day off for students) to support staff and students.

"Suddenly we just heard screaming"

Vance Webb, a retired machinist living in the suburbs of Yarmouth, attended the parade on Saturday with his wife, son-in-law and three grandchildren.

"We were watching the parade, then about 30 meters away, suddenly the float stops and I see something on the ground," Webb told The Canadian Press.

"Then all of a sudden, we just heard screaming – it was pretty close to us."

The child was hit just before 7pm. near the intersection of Main Street and Starrs Road in Yarmouth, about an hour after the start of the Yarmouth Christmas Parade. (Paul Poirier / CBC)

Webb said that the whole scene was plunged into "chaos" as people realized what had happened.

"People within 20 meters of distance – none of us disagree." All the adults were crying. </ P> <p> Wherever I saw, there were hundreds of people who were crying, "said Webb. "It's really going to affect the city."

Pam Mood, Mayor of Yarmouth, said, "This whole community is in mourning." (Paul Poirier / CBC)

In a subsequent interview with CBC News, Webb noted that there were cars parked on both sides of the road during the parade. He said people stood in the street in front of the cars to get a better view.

"I had never seen this before at a fashion show," Webb said. "This simply reduced visibility and created a narrow point on the road and we felt that it was not correct from the start."

To make the parade safer next year, Webb suggested running volunteers next to the tanks to make sure no one gets too close. He also suggested that the parade during the daylight hours could also make it safer.

"I'm not sure this has contributed to that, but it's a possibility," Webb said.

Organizers of the parade, known as the Christmas Lights Parade, discussed the situation in a Facebook post on Sunday morning, claiming that they were "devastated by the traumatic accident".

"We, with the community, mourn the family [sic] loss and pray for all those affected. The goal is to come together as a community and help this family through a very difficult time, "he said.

"A huge tragedy"

RCMP officers and emergency health services immediately treated the girl. She was taken to the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Sean Mills, a father and a fisherman, has started a fundraiser to cover the funeral costs of the little girl. (Paul Poirier / CBC)

Mayor Pam Mood was not present at the community-organized parade, but said the time has come for the community to come together.

"It's a huge tragedy, something that we could not even dream of," Mood told CBC News.

"So now, this whole community is mourning [and] very concerned about family, first responders, anyone involved in it. The community is just spending our time comforting us and making sure everyone is fine. "

Mood says thousands of people come to the parade each year. She said the parade is an annual tradition in the city for about 20 years.

She says mayors and colleagues across Nova Scotia have pledged their support to the city. The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences to the city.

Sean Mills, a father and fisherman from Yarmouth, has launched a fundraising campaign to cover funeral costs.

"It's just a tragedy, it's an accident and it's terrible.We all have children and that could have been any of our children.We were all at the parade last night, "said Mill.

Mills said that he knew that the money would not allow the family to feel better, but that it would ease the financial burden.

"I have a child of the same age and it's terrible news, there's nothing good in there," he said.

"I think the whole community in general feels exactly the same thing, they know it's terrible.It's supposed to be a good time of year and a tragedy occurs and it turns completely."

Seeking help

Hutchinson said that he knew that many people have witnessed the incident and suggested that some people may wish to seek help, including first responders, to whom the They will be offered assistance if they so request.

"If you have difficulties with what you have seen, it is very important to talk about it and seek help to deal with these emotions," he said.

A grief reduction specialist will be at Rodd Grand Hotel in Yarmouth at 6:30 pm. Sunday for everyone who needs to talk about this tragedy.

A spokesman for the RCMP said the police did not plan to lay criminal charges.