If you drive south of St. Louis for a couple of hours, you’ll arrive in Sikeston, Missouri. Its annual Cotton Carnival is a popular event in the city of about 41,000. However, this year’s event was marred by a pedestrian accident that resulted in injuries to a 7-year-old boy and his grandmother.
The boy and his grandmother were along the route of the 74th annual Cotton Carnival parade when a vehicle pulling a 36-foot-long trailer missed a right-hand turn and went onto a corner of an intersection.
According to a news report, “the trailer struck the child, rolling over him, as he waited for the parade.” The trailer also ran over his grandmother’s foot.
The boy was then taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, the report stated. A city Department of Public Safety spokesperson said the child suffered broken ribs and abrasions and that his grandmother sustained bruising in the accident.
The driver was cooperating with investigating officers, the spokesperson said, and was reportedly “very upset” about the collision and injuries caused.
There was no word in the news article about whether the driver had been cited by police.
While the driver might well be upset, the reality is that for the boy and his grandmother, painful injuries occurred. Though the driver said he was trying to avoid another vehicle at the time of the accident, it is safe to say that a slow-moving parade vehicle should never strike onlookers.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by driver negligence, contact an attorney experienced in personal injury litigation; a lawyer who can help you get justice and full compensation for all damages.
