'Deeply devastating': Ohio youth dies after falling off float at Memorial Day parade
AKRON, Ohio − A 13-year-old boy who died after falling off a float at a Memorial Day parade south of Akron was identified as a 7th grader from nearby Lake Township, authorities said.
The Summit County Medical Examiner's office on Tuesday identified the victim as Matthew Schultz. Schultz fell off the front of a trailer, being pulled by a pickup, and was run over by the trailer's tires at the Green Memorial Day parade May 26, Summit County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Corin Usinski said.
The Green Fire Department, on site for the parade, immediately responded to the incident and transported the teen to Akron Children’s Hospital. Despite emergency medical efforts, the "injuries sustained were severe," and Schultz was pronounced dead, the sheriff's office said in a statement.
"It was an absolute tragedy," Usinski said. "I've been doing this for 25 years as a police officer and I have never heard of this happening ever before."
Green is a city of about about 30,000 people, 10 miles south of Akron. The sheriff's office was investigating the incident with the Summit Metro Crash team.
Counseling to be offered to students
"Our hearts go out to the family at this time, a terrible loss," Green Mayor Rocco Yeargin said. "We look to support them as a Green community any way that we can."
Schultz was a student in the North Canton district. Yeargin said the Green school authorities were reaching out to North Canton to offer counselors to help students there "get through this."
"The loss of a young life is deeply devastating, and our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family, friends, classmates and teachers during this unimaginable time," Tim Walker, incoming North Canton superintendent, said in a message to school parents.
Two killed in Memorial Day shooting in Philadelphia
Two people were killed and nine others injured in a shooting at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on Memorial Day, police said Tuesday. All of the nine injured in the Monday night shooting were in stable condition. A male and a female, both adults, were killed, police said.
Three teenagers were among those wounded in the crowded park, according to the police.
No arrests had been made and no weapons recovered, police said.
Contributing: Reuters