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Plant City Parade Death May Spawn Rule Changes

TBO.com photo by KEVIN BRADY

Jordan Hays, 9, was killed on Dec. 7 when he got caught under the wheels of a parade float as he reached for more candy to toss.

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2008

Updated: 01/11/2008 01:24 pm

PLANT CITY - A report has been released on the investigation into the death of a boy during the Plant City Christmas Parade.

City Manager David Sollenberger is recommending the city ban the throwing of beads and candy in parades and consider erecting barriers that would keep spectators off parade routes.

Sollenberger's recommendations come after an investigation into the death of 9-year-old Jordan "Booka" Hays during the parade on Dec. 7. The Inverness boy was distributing candy from a church float. Hays, who was walking alongside the float, was reaching for more candy when he was run over, police have said.

In the report, which was released this morning and will be presented Monday to the city commission, Sollenberger calls for an outright ban of throwing of candy and beads. He also asks for a study of barricades. It could cost as much as $200,000 to buy enough barricades for the parade route, he said.

Sollengerger also asks for further study of parade safety.

Sollenberger based his recommendations on a study by several officials, including Police Chief Bill McDaniel and fire-rescue Chief George Shiley.

Findings in the report include:

•The death of Hays could have been prevented.

•Rescue personnel were able to reach the scene in a timely fashion. Paramedics reached him in less than six minutes, but his injuries were so severe he could not be saved.

•There was no reckless behavior that led to the death.

A number of other recommendations are under consideration in the interest of safety, including shorter parade routes and moving the parade from night to day. Those recommendations will be studied, Sollenberger said.

The report gives the most detailed account to date of Hays' death. The report states that the Greater Heights Family Worship Center float had stopped momentarily and Hays stepped in front of the float's tandem wheels, which protruded from the sides of the float, to reach for candy. When the driver starting going forward again, Hays was run over by the wheels, the report states.

Factors that contributed to the accident included that Hays was "too young to be walking up to and around moving vehicles in the confined environment of the parade route," the report states. Also, the report blames the float's design and the placing of boxes of candy forward of the wheels.

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