The alleged driver of the truck that drove into attendees at the Wilton Manors Pride parade.
Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Truck Drives Into Wilton Manors Pride Parade Killing One, Injuring More

The alleged driver of the truck that drove into attendees at the Wilton Manors Pride parade.
(screen capture)

Tragedy struck the twilight Stonewall Pride march in Wilton Manors, Florida on Saturday leaving one person dead and two others are injured after a truck drove into attendees just before the beginning of the event.

The pickup truck driver appeared to be part of the march but then suddenly accelerated when he was told he was next in the procession according to WSVN-TV.

Two adults were transported to a local hospital where one later died, according to a police spokesman. The other remains hospitalized with serious injuries but is expected to survive. A third victim is in a stable condition.

The car narrowly missed a vehicle carrying Democratic congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was clearly “deeply shaken” but unharmed.

The event was canceled and and an investigation is underway according to Wilton Mayor Scott Newton in a statement to the press.

Out Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis was in attendance and told WPLG he believed it was a deliberate attack.

“This is a terrorist attack against the LGBT community,” he said. “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.”

But later reports indicate the incident may have been an accident. At this point in time there hasn’t been any definitive announcement.

Justin Knight, the President of the Fort Lauderdale’s Gay Men’s Chorus, confirmed in a statement that the driver was “part of the Chorus family.” Knight added, “To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community.”

Local10 reporter Christian De La Rosa, who witnessed the incident, reports the driver was taken into custody.

“He appeared to be part of the parade,” he noted, “he was wearing a Pride shirt.”

Some theorize the jump to believe the incident was an ‘attack’ is due, in part, to a bill signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in April which assigns civil immunity to anyone who drives a vehicle into protesters that are blocking a road during a “riot.”