Part of float falls on child, Fire & Ice Holiday DeLight Parade halted

CEDAR RAPIDS — The annual Holiday DeLight Parade at the Cedar Rapids Fire & Ice Festival was halted Saturday when part of a float broke off and landed on a young child, according to police.

Cedar Rapids Public Safety spokesman Greg Buelow said the incident took place around 6:40 p.m. near the intersection of Second Street and Third Avenue SE.

According to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, firefighters were called at 6:42 p.m. to the report of a float that had tipped over during the parade. Firefighters assisted with stabilization of the float and removal from the parade route.

A child, believed to be 4 or 5 years old, was transported to a hospital with a non-life threatening injury, after a door from the float fell onto him, according to fire department officials.

Cedar Rapids police and Area Ambulance Service assisted at the scene. Police continue to investigate.

Melissa McCarville, communications manager for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, which put on the parade, said the float may have struck a streetlight, causing an awning on the float to become dislodged.

She said the streets along the parade route were packed Saturday as the event stepped off around 6 p.m. She said the parade featured 60 entries. The incident happened at the 43rd entry, she said.

'The parade was just about over,' she added. 'It was delayed 20 to 25 minutes and then we resumed the parade and finished it.'