Police: Driver of float that hit child had no driver’s license

CEDAR RAPIDS - The driver of a Holiday DeLight Parade float that hit a streetlight and injured a boy did not have a valid driver's license, police said.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said 43-year-old Anthony Goodwin was driving a 1990 Ford F-Super Duty truck that was pulling a float in the parade Saturday evening. Buelow said the float was near the intersection of Second Street and Third Avenue SE around 6:40 p.m. when an elevated cover hit a street lamp. Part of the float then fell off and hit 5-year-old Jackson Vorba.

Buelow said Goodwin has been cited for no valid driver's license.

The boy's stepmother, Megan Valentine, said Jackson suffered a contusion to his head and received six staples. The family is now pursuing legal action.

'We're going to take some action, especially after the fact that the driver was cited for no license,” Valentine said Monday. 'To be in a city parade you should at least have a license to drive. We do feel like someone should be held somewhat responsible for this.”

Valentine said she, her husband - Dennis Vorba - and the couple's two children had gone to the parade as a family. Valentine said she heard the float coming and stood up to see it. That's when the float hit the streetlight, she said.

Valentine said she shielded Jackson from some of the debris.

'I caught some of it on my back, arm area,” she said, adding she suffered some bruising.

Valentine said she pulled her son back by a building and was swarmed with onlookers who offered to provide aid, blankets or something to apply pressure to the boy's wound. Police arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and an ambulance took the boy and Valentine to St. Luke's Hospital. He was discharged later that night, Valentine said.

'The emergency staff were phenomenal” Valentine said. 'The way they treated Jackson was really amazing.”

Valentine said Jackson was running a fever and was sick to his stomach on Sunday. He's been 'very quiet” and has seemed 'emotional” since the incident she said.

The float involved in the incident had a 'Dark Carnival Grinch” theme. It was in the latter third in the parade of 60 floats.

The float was registered under the business name RB Concession by Danny Bates, of Cedar Rapids, who also goes by Robert Bates. Bates is a community activist, who has run for city council.

Reached by phone, Bates said he is heartbroken about the incident.

'I've been in this business for 14 years and we haven't had a stubbed toe,” said Bates, who operates at various festivals and carnivals. 'This just kills me. I am just heartbroken.”

Bates was helping hand out '600 wrapped gifts, which I hand wrapped, 500 stuffed animals and 1,000 little toys” during the parade and didn't see what happened. He said he took Goodwin at his word when he confirmed he had a license.

Bates said while he filled out some personal information to register, he was not asked who would be driving, proof of a driver's license or proof of insurance. He said he carries insurance. While the parade rules set limits for float height, it has no parameters for width.

'I'm taking up three lanes; you have to go down the middle of the road,” Bates said. 'They tell you in the form how tall I can be. Why wouldn't you tell me how wide I could be?”

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance puts on the parade and has liability insurance meeting the city's requirements, according to Melissa McCarville, a spokeswoman for the organization.

While the registration form doesn't ask about the driver, McCarville said a driver's license is required.

'As the law requires, there are no exceptions to parade entries,” she said.

She said officials at parade headquarters at the start of the parade inspect, verify and validate 'that all entries are in compliance before they are allowed onto the route.”

The fee to register is $25 to $55 and participants must agree to 10 rules and sign a liability waiver releasing the Economic Alliance, the city and the parade committee of any liability from actions caused by or to participants associated with the entry.

Among the rules, floats must have lights and two fire extinguishers onboard and be less than 13 feet tall to clear the skywalk system and stop lights. Those on the floats are allowed to distribute candy or objects by hand but may not throw anything into the crowd. The parade registration form lists the maximum float dimensions as 10-12 feet tall and 20 feet long.

McCarville said police haven't contacted her organization about the incident.

She said Bates' parade application describes the entry as 'Danny the American fakir and the Wandering Ninja Clan presents ‘the Dark Carnival Grinch 2016' ” and says those involved were to give out presents, candy and stuffed animals.

The same float was in the parade a few years ago with no issues, McCarville said.

'Every year we look at our rules and policies and procedures and make sure they are up to date, and we will do that again for the upcoming year,” she added.

The Economic Alliance was granted a 'special event permit” by the city of Cedar Rapids. The permit does not address any requirements for the parade participants, other than sidewalks shall not be obstructed.

Maria Johnson, a Cedar Rapids spokeswoman, said it is the only night parade the city permits.