Colorado Labor Day Parade Float Kills 8-Year-Old

An eight-year-old boy died after being reportedly struck by a church-sponsored float at the Harvest Festival parade in Windsor, Colorado, on Labor Day.

The boy was a participant in the Labor Day parade Monday when he was reportedly struck by the float. It was unclear when the “accident” exactly took place, but according to the authorities it happened near the end of the parade route, about 20 miles southeast of Fort Collins, Windsor.

The victim was rushed to the Medical Center of the Rockies and was later pronounced dead, Todd Vess, spokesman for Windsor Severance Fire Rescue, said, USA Today reported. The rest of the parade was cancelled, following the incident.

Vess added it was unclear whether the boy fell from the float, or was struck by it while walking beside it. The Weld County Coroner's Office is yet to release the identity of the victim and the official cause of death.

“The child and family are in our hearts right now. Windsor is a small, tight-knit community and we hope to protect the family’s privacy as they grieve the loss of their child,” Windsor Police Chief Rick Klimek said in a statement, Denver Post reported.

The incident was characterized as “rare” and “very traumatic for people who witnessed it” by Vess.

The float, which fatally injured the child, reportedly belonged to Generations Church in Greenley, which is scheduled to open a new facility Sept. 23.

In a statement to ABC-affiliated the Denver Channel, the church officials said: “The son of one of our families from Generations Church was involved in a tragic accident while serving at the Windsor Day Parade. Our concentration, prayers and time are being given to the family, grieving their loss, and ours. Future outreach events are on hold, while we do that well, and until we can move forward with unity and wisdom. We and the family covet your prayers and support.”

A pile of teddy bears, baseball bats, roses, balloons and candles was left near the corner of Chestnut and 7th streets in Windsor — where the incident reportedly took place — in the deceased’s memory by members of the community.

Dana Trimble, a witness of the incident, also visited the scene.

“I’m here just to pay my respects to the little guy and the family,” she told Greenley Tribune. “I would hope to have the same. … We were watching them, and the next thing you know, you just hear shrieking and screaming. The mom was just frantic, of course, just screaming and crying.”

Clear Water Products, the Greeley oilfield services business where the boy’s father, Jimmy Zerby, worked as a supervisor, helped set up an online fundraiser for the victim’s family. The fundraiser raised $38,000 within first five hours of being set up.

“No matter how much this thing raises, we’re going to take care of them,” Jason Edwards, the company’s vice president said Monday. “We’re going to be here.”