CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two women and three men were injured on Sunday after an accident at the Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Festival in the city’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood, police said.
The crash happened about 9:15 p.m. as the festival was coming to an end at the Roberto Clemente Park on Seymour Avenue. A 64-year-old man who drove a 2013 Ford U-Haul plan intended to drive through the park to remove a vendor’s equipment and supplies when his foot slipped off the brake pedal and pushed the accelerator, police said.
That caused the U-Haul’s left front corner to collide with the rear of a 2022 Dodge Ram, police said.
The Ford U-Haul went through some vendor’s tables and struck three pedestrians on the opposite side of the tables. The Ford U-Haul stopped against a fence on the north side of the park, according to police.
A 49-year-old woman suffered lower body injuries, and a 45-year-old woman had a fractured right leg and pelvis. Both were taken to MetroHealth by emergency management services.
The crash caused equipment damage and overturned a fryer, which caused grease to be spilled on a 30-year-old man. He was transported to MetroHealth and has been confined to the burn it, police said.
The 50-year-old driver of the Dodge Ram and the driver of the Ford U-Haul were also to taken to MetroHealth. Their current conditions are unknown as of Monday afternoon, police said.
The crash is still under investigation by police.
The Puerto Rican celebration has been celebrated in Cleveland for more than 50 years. It is kicked off with a parade and is intended to educate the community about Puerto Rican culture and history.