Tennessee boy dies at Christmas parade after falling out of trailer before father runs him over
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A 7-year-old boy died during a Christmas parade in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, after he fell out of a trailer and was run over by the truck his father was driving.
Rowan Ace Frensley was hit at the end of the parade just after noon on Saturday by a slow-moving Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Art Frensley, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol report released Monday. The truck was towing the trailer in reverse at low speeds while preparing to unload the passengers at a middle school parking lot.
Police escorted an ambulance through heavy traffic as the parade was ending. Rowan was transported to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mount Juliet minister Eric Moreno told The Tennessean that about 20 kids were on the trailer at the time. Rowan’s family members were also present at the scene.
Rowan was a Cub Scout and a student at W.A. Wright Elementary in Mount Juliet, about 20 miles east of Nashville.
A vigil was held Sunday for Rowan and over 100 people came to show their support.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Facebook fundraising campaign for the family has exceeded its $10,000 goal with almost $73,000 in donations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.