Young boy, 13, dies in freak accident at Memorial Day Parade
Matthew Schultz, a student from North Canton, died Monday after falling from an Air Ninja Gym float during the annual parade in the city of Green.
The trailer, which carried six other children ages 7 to 13, was being escorted by two adults walking alongside it when the tragic accident occurred.
The float was representing a children's gym in Green and it was attached to a dual-axle car hauler being pulled by a Ford F-150 pick-up truck, which was driving at or below 5 miles an hour at the time of the accident, according to the sheriff's office.
The boy fell at around 11:30am before being then struck by the trailer's wheels, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner.
Paramedics from the Green Fire Department were following directly behind the float and rushed to help.
Matthew was transported to Akron Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:04pm, just over 30 minutes after the incident.
'Our hearts go out to the family this time a terrible loss, we look to support them as a green community any way that we can,' Mayor Rocco Yeargin said.
'Our school district has reached out to the school district of North Canton to offer counselors that will be in action to help their students walk through this issue.'
The teen attended North Canton City Schools, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
North Canton City Schools released a heartbreaking statement, saying Matthew was 'a kind and caring student' who brought joy to those around him.
'The loss of a young life is deeply devastating, and our thoughts and prayers are with Matthew's family, friends, classmates, and teachers during this unimaginable time.'
'He was a kind and caring student. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to everyone affected by this tragedy.'
'Please know that our crisis management teams have been activated and we will have counseling services and resources available for students and staff at each of our buildings. Please encourage those around you to seek support.'
Danielle Paciorek, who spoke on behalf of the Schultz family, said Matthew 'brought a lifetime worth of joy to those who knew him.'
'Matthew was just 13 years old, but in that short time, he brought a lifetime worth of joy to those who knew him. He was a bright light, full of curiosity, laughter and love,' she said.
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BBC News
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The Independent
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A preliminary report into the crash found that fuel switches for the engines of the doomed Boeing 787 Dreamliner began to lose thrust and sink down moments after setting of to London from the Indian city on June 12. In the flight's final moments, one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. 'The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer, nor which pilot immediately transmitted the distress call: 'Thrust not achieved... falling... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' Seconds later the jet began losing height and exploded into a fireball after smashing into a hostel on the ground in Gujarat, claiming the lives of all but one passenger on board and 19 people on the ground. Investigators' early assessments indicate no apparent fault with the Boeing or its engines, suggesting that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident. But the report does not say how the switch - which is used to start or shut down the engines and are typically left on during flight - could have flipped to the cutoff position. 'Did they move on their own or did they move because of the pilots?' he asked. 'And if they were moved because of a pilot, why?' The report said the jet was carrying 54,200kg of fuel, which was within the 'allowable limits'. 'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report said. 'The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. 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