MONTREAL — Montreal’s St. Patrick’s parade came to a tragic end Sunday when a young reveller was killed after jumping from a flatbed truck.
Hours after the fatal accident, which occurred along the parade route that ran down the city’s main street, the body of the 19-year-old man lay on the pavement, covered in plastic sheets.
Two blocks of the main commercial street remained cordoned off and investigators surrounded a large flatbed truck covered with shamrocks.
The thousands of spectators who had lined the street earlier were dispersed by police right after the accident, which occurred at 2:15 p.m., two hours into the parade.
The procession, nearing its end, had been cut short.
Despite numerous witnesses - the sidewalk was packed with spectators - police say details of the fatal accident remain vague.
“The were witnesses on the scene but it’s hard to say: Did he get off when the truck had stopped, did he fall off?” said Montreal police spokeswoman Anie Lemieux.
“Everything is possible at this stage, we’re trying to gather as many details as possible.”
Investigators said the victim was one of two young men who jumped on the float a few blocks from where the accident occurred. Then they decided to hop off the truck and that’s when the victim fell under its wheels.
Lemieux said the second young man was treated for shock and will be questioned by investigators.
She also said witnesses had seen the young man drinking.
Public boozing is a tradition during the St. Patrick’s day parade in Montreal. Spectators along the parade route can be spotted openly sipping beer and whisky during the cold March celebration.
In a similar accident in 2002, a university student had his legs crushed under the wheels of a float during the St. Patrick’s parade.
The float involved in Sunday’s accident belonged to a local college.
Marianopolis College spokeswoman Kathryn Haralambous said the victim was not affiliated with the school.
“We send condolences to this young man and his family,” she said.
The 25 people who were on the float were sent home, Haralambous said, and a counsellor who was on the truck gave support to the shocked parade participants.
“He had his hands full,” she said.