UPDATE: Woman hit, dragged 'very short distance' by float at start of Bristol parade

The woman was taken to the hospital after she was 'struck and dragged a very short distance'

EastBayRI.com ·

A woman was taken to the hospital after being hit and "dragged a very short distance" by a float in the Bristol Fourth of July Parade Tuesday, Bristol Police have confirmed.

Bristol Police Capt. Brian Burke told the Phoenix the woman was struck by a float in the parade as it turned onto Hope Street from Chestnut Street right around noon. The woman fell to the ground and "sustained what appeared to be superficial cuts and abrasions," Capt. Burke said.

The woman "was struck by the front of the float and dragged a very short distance," Capt. Burke said. "The driver of the vehicle immediately stopped. Several bystanders and rescue workers then ran immediately to the area."

The bystanders lifted the float off the woman, witnesses said and Capt. Burke confirmed. Bristyol Fire Rescue treated her for visible cuts on the scene and brought her to the hospital. Her condition is not known. "She was alert and communicating" with rescue workers, Capt. Burke said.

Witnesses said the woman walking near the Vietnam Veterans float was distracted when someone called her name. She turned around and didn't see the slow-moving float inching toward her, part of which then fell on her, according to parade spectator Jen Gilbert.

"It took her out by the knees, and then I think she hit her head on the concrete going down," Ms. Gilbert said. "I closed my eyes, then I opened them up and there were probably 50 people lifting up the float, trying to take it off of her. It was pretty scary."

Bristol Fire Rescue responded to the accident and transported the woman to Rhode Island Hospital.

This is a developing story. Check back with eastbayri.com for more information as it becomes available.

Bristol Fire Rescue, Bristol Fourth of July Parade