Colorado Child Dies After Being Hit By Parade Float

WINDSOR, Colo. — A candle light vigil is planned Tuesday for an 8-year-old child who died after being struck by a church float Monday morning at the Windsor Harvest Festival Parade. The popular Labor Day parade, in its 97th year, was immediately canceled as rescue workers tried to revive the boy. He was taken to UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies. He died soon after being taken to the hospital.

Related: Funeral Arrangements For Child Killed In Windsor Parade Announced

Co-workers of Jimmy Zerby, father of Brycen Zirby at Clear Water Products in Greeley, identified the boy in a GoFundMe account to raise money for the family.

"The Clear Water Products family would like to help support the Zerby family as they grieve the lost of their beloved 8 year old son, Brycen Zerby, today September 3, 2018, Any donation would be greatly appreciated. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Zerby family," the GoFundMe account said.

Todd Vess, spokesman for Windsor Severance Fire Rescue said the incident was no doubt upsetting for bystanders.

"It happened along the parade route. We have a lot of people who witnessed it," Vess said. He said crisis resources for people who witnessed the accident would be available from North Range Behavioral Health in Greeley at 970-347-2120.

Witnesses called police round 10:30 a.m. when they saw the child hit by the float from Greeley's Generations Church near 7th and Chestnut Streets.

“The child and family are in our hearts right now," Windsor Police Chief Rick Klimek said in a statement from the Town of Windsor. "Windsor is a small, tight-knit community and we hope to protect the family’s privacy as they grieve the loss of their child."

"The Windsor Harvest Festival extends their sympathies to the family," the festival said in a news release, reported by Denver7.

Witnesses told Denver7 they saw the boy fall under the parade float, which was moving a billboard for the church. The driver reportedly heard screaming and stopped, the TV station reported. The boy was a participant in the parade.

Ambulances and emergency workers moved through the parade route along 7th and Walnut Street as the crowd parted. The parade was about half-way over when the accident occurred, the Greeley Tribune reported.

"As first responders made their way along the parade route, the mood turned shifted to concern. Many people began to realize a serious accident occurred," the paper reported.

Officials said the Weld County Coroner will release more information later.

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