A tragic scene happened earlier today at Oklahoma State University's Homecoming Day Parade in Stillwater, Oklahoma. At approximately 10:30am, just hours prior to kickoff between the Cowboys and the Kansas Jayhawks football game, the parade was underway. With OSU students, alumni, parents, and children in attendance, the festivities sadly went awry as a drunk driver suddenly plowed into the parade of hundreds, ultimately leaving three people dead and thirty-four seriously injured. Several of the critically injured persons were taken into ambulances for treatment, and eight of them were airlifted to a local hospital.
The drunk driver was identified by police as Adacia Chambers. She was charged with a DUI, and was immediately taken into custody at the Payne County Jail.
According to CNN, OSU graduate student Paul Sims detailed what he witness at the time of the accident, “I can’t describe it any more clearly than this: People flying in the air.” Another witness and OSU alum in attendance, Konda Walker, described the bloodbath scene, “At first we thought it was part of the show. People were flying 30 feet into the air like rag dolls.” Additional witnesses said that the car barreled into a police motorcycle first and then into the crowd at a high rate of speed. “I think the car was going between 45 and 50 MPH, and it just barreled into everybody that was there,” witness Megan Lantz stated to The Oklahoman. “I had my six children with me, but I am first aid certified, so I passed them on to my mother and ran in to help. Everyone was helping as much as they could.”
OSU released a statement regarding the tragedy on Twitter:
The school's Athletics Department administrators decided to proceed with today's game, and flew the American flag at half mast in honor of the victims.
Our prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured.
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[via CNN]
