SHOCKING new footage has emerged showing a truck driving into a garden centre just moments after it plowed into the crowd at Wilton Manors Pride Parade.
It comes as Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis has faced backlash for branding the crash a “terrorist attack.”
The incident that took place at the Stonewall Pride Parade in Florida on Saturday at around 7pm, has left one man dead and another in critical condition, according to police.
Michael Albetta, a Fort Lauderdale resident and regional director of the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus witnessed the incident and told the Sun Sentinel: “I was about 30 feet away when this vehicle rushed by me.
“He must have been doing 50 mph. All I saw was bodies flying up in the air.
“One man’s laying on the ground with blood all over the place. And I saw the truck take this one guy through the fence. It was horrific.”
“All I know is what I saw, ” he added.
“There was a whoosh and there was bump bump. Those were the bodies he was hitting.
“I was just trying to get people out of the way. Everyone was in shock. It’s something you see on TV, not in person. It was a very ugly, surreal moment.”
Video that has emerged from the scene shows a white truck flying LGBTQ+ flags driving into the Fort Lauderdale Garden Center.
The driver who was wearing a Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus t-shirt was taken into custody after allegedly hitting the two men.
It later emerged that the driver was a 77-year-old man who had ailments that kept him from walking in the parade, according to the police.
Meanwhile, Mayor Trantalis has been slammed for his comments about the tragic accident, with many claiming he should have waited to gather all the facts before branding the incident a”terrorist attack against the LGBT community.”
“This is a terrorist attack against the LGBT community,” Trantalis told Local 10 News on Saturday.
“This is exactly what it is. Hardly an accident. It was deliberate, it was premeditated, and it was targeted against a specific person.
“Luckily they missed that person, but unfortunately, they hit two other people.”
His comments prompted outrage to social media users who took it to Twitter.
“I hope @DeanTrantalis gets sued and then removed from office or defeated. Government officials shouldn’t be able accuse someone of *terrorism* so flippantly without facts,” conservative author David Reaboi tweeted.
“Would have been neat if the mayor waited for facts,” conservative writer Carmine Sabia said.
Former NYPD officer John Cardillo said “Far left Ft. Lauderdale Mayor @DeanTrantalis needs to publicly retract and apologize.
“If the Mayor had waited even 15 minutes, then he could’ve made a reasoned statement. Video of the arrest showed the driver wearing a gay men’s chorus t-shirt, which was more than enough to [sow] reasonable doubt about the intent of the driver,” Florida-based radio host Grant Stern added.
Shocking footage from the scene shows Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in tears after the pick-up truck narrowly avoided smashing into the convertible the Democrat was riding in.
The white pickup truck had been lined up with other floats at the beginning of the parade when it suddenly accelerated and ran over two people taking part in the event.
The two victims were both taken to Broward Health Medical Center via ambulance where one was later pronounced dead, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
“This tragedy took place within feet of me and my BSO team, and we are devastated having witnessed this horrific incident,” Tony said in a statement.
“Our prayers are with the victims and their families. Be sure to hug the ones you love tonight.”
Officers were filmed administering CPR to one of the victims in the middle of the street.
A senior official briefed on the matter told CBS Miami that early indications suggest that this was an accident.
The driver of the truck reportedly told police that his foot became stuck between the gas pedal and the brake, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
However, the official warned that an investigation is still in its early stages and more information is likely to emerge.
The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus issued a statement to WLPG confirming that the driver is a member of the choir, as were to two men hit by his vehicle.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic accident that occurred when the Stonewall Pride Parade was just getting started,” the group said.
“Our fellow Chorus members were those injured and the driver was also part of the Chorus family.
“To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community. We anticipate more details to follow and ask for the communities love and support.”
Police have not yet released any information to suggest the incident was premeditated.
Spectator Christina Currie who was at the parade with her husband and two children told the Sun Sentinel that she believed the incident was “intentional.”
“We were at the start of the parade, right in front of Fort Lauderdale High School,” Currie said.
“All of a sudden there was a loud revving of a truck and a crash through a fence… It was definitely an intentional act right across the lanes of traffic.”
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The truck narrowly missed US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was participating in the parade in a campaign-emblazoned convertible.
A reporter for WPLG said that it appeared as though the truck had been aiming for the Democrat’s car but “missed” before running over the two victims.
Schultz was pictured in tears while speaking on the phone inside the car as police descended on the scene.
She later released a statement, saying she was “deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost” at the parade.
“My staff, volunteers and I are, thankfully, safe. I want to thank our first responders for their heroic efforts as both police and emergency medical personnel stepped into action quickly.
“We’re praying for the victims and their loved ones as law enforcement investigates and I am providing them with whatever assistance I can. I am so heartbroken by what took place at this celebration. May the memory of the life lost be for a blessing,” she said.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was also at the parade on Saturday, she confirmed in a tweet.
“I’m lucky to be safe, but at least two people were hit and are in critical condition,” she wrote.
“All of us here all praying for them and their families.”
Law enforcement has not yet returned a US Sun request seeking further information.
The parade has been suspended as police work the scene.
“Due to a tragic event, the Stonewall Pride Parade has been cancelled but the festival events will continue,” Wilton Manors PD wrote in a Facebook post.
“There is no danger to the public,” the department added.
