Pauls Valley’s homecoming parade hit a snag Friday afternoon when a private vehicle tried to cross the parade route and struck a Freightliner truck pulling a float with students onboard.
No injuries were reported in the accident, which occurred around 1:10 p.m. on Burr Avenue near S. Chickasaw Street, according to a statement released by the Pauls Valley Police Department Friday afternoon.
Parade vehicles were heading out of the staging area in the Burr Center parking lot onto Burr Avenue when a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis pulled out of separate parking lot drive onto Burr Avenue and tried to cut between parade vehicles. The driver of the Mercury, a 17-year-old male, lost control, overcorrected and struck a 2014 Freightliner that was pulling a float-trailer. The trailer itself was not involved in the collision.
The driver of the Mercury was cited for driving without a driver’s license and reckless driving, according to the statement from police. The front seat passenger, 52-year-old Paul Ray Bryan, was also cited for allowing an unauthorized person to drive, and the Mercury was impounded.
The Freightliner did sustain damage in the collision but was able to continue in the parade, once it was clear no one was injured.
“The homecoming parade is always a special event for our schools and community,” Pauls Valley Superintendent Adam McPhail said in a statement released Friday afternoon. “We appreciate the cooperation of the students, staff, and spectators during this unfortunate situation. We are also grateful for the quick response, support, and assistance of the Pauls Valley Police Department.”
Pauls Valley Police Chief Derrick Jolley said his department takes every precaution to ensure safe parade routes, including bringing in the entire staff of officers to block intersections.
“We do not have the staff or resources to block every private access point to the parade routes though,” Pauls Valley Police Chief Derrick Jolley said. “We ask that the public be patient and enjoy the parades in our city or take alternate routes around them. If every intersection is blocked with emergency vehicles or barricades, you should not seek a private access point to bypass them and enter the roadway or parade route anyway.”
