NEW ORLEANS — A man was struck and killed after apparently falling between two sections of a massive tandem float at the Krewe of Endymion Saturday night - the second time in four nights that a horrific accident killed someone attending the parade to enjoy a good time.
Just like Wednesday night at the Krewe of Nyx, the victim was caught between two parts of a tandem float. It was not clear immediately if the man was pushed into the opening as a crowd surged or if he fell pursuing some throws.
And, just like Wednesday night, all floats and marching groups after the float involved in the accident were cancelled, leaving tens of thousands of people in the streets anticipating a huge show with notice - often by word of mouth, or by mobile or social alert - that there would be only a limited show.
Endymion ended after its first 13 floats while Nyx cancelled after 20 floats. Both left hundreds of riders with thousands of dollars of throws with no one to throw them to.
The city of New Orleans had a press briefing quickly after the accident and decided to cancel all tandem floats in the remaining parades of this season. At least three of the remaining krewes that have multiple tandem floats quickly said they would abide by the ruling and split their connected multi-part floats into separate floats.
The Krewe of Bacchus quickly put out a statement saying it will comply with the city's request to split all tandem floats. Krewe officials said they are working to find enough tractors to pull the additional floats.
"We have spoken with Kern Studios and we will comply with the City of New Orleans’ request to split our tandem floats," the statement reads. "The Krewe of Bacchus will roll as usual on Bacchus Sunday at 5:15 pm from Napoleon and Tchoupitoulas."
The victim was struck by float 14, the Captain S.S. Eddie. The Times-Picayune Tweeted that was the same float that killed a rider that had gotten off the float in 2008.
A video captured by a parade goer, captured float 14 passing by and then stopping and police racing to the scene.
"I cannot wrap my head around witnessing this," said Jonah Gilmore, a former WWL employee who was right where the accident occurred. "The screams, seeing CPR performed on his body, and seeing them finally drape that sheet. I never imagined I would witness something so horrific."
"We were just out here trying to enjoy the parade and someone was hit by a float - again," said a weary parade goer. "It makes you not want to go to the parades. All of this, over some beads."
Though there was no immediate word of how exactly the victim was killed, a tarp placed between two sections of a tandem float seemed eerily reminiscent of the tragedy at the Krewe of Nyx parade earlier this week.
The float image was captured by a photographer for the Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.
"Everyone was being super cautious after what happened the other night," said Brittany Anbo, a parade goer in from Mississippi. "And then the same thing happens again."
Mayor LaToya Cantrell put out a statement saying that the City of New Orleans will come together and persevere in the face of such tragedy.
“Our hearts break for those lost and for their loved ones, and our prayers and deepest sympathies are with them — and will be with them in all the days and months ahead. May our people take this moment to uplift our brothers and our sisters, to mourn as one and to move forward, together.” the statement reads.
The fatal accident involving a float comes just a couple of days after a woman was run over and killed by the second half of a tandem float in the Krewe of Nyx parade Wednesday night.
That victim was struck by float 21. The first 20 floats in that parade finished parading, but the final 23 floats were cancelled.
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