Struck girl dies in North Carolina Christmas parade

A young girl performing in a Christmas parade in North Carolina has died after a driver lost control of a vehicle towing a float in the procession and struck her.

A GMC Denali was pulling a float for the CC & Co. Dance at the Raleigh Christmas Parade when the driver began yelling that he had lost control of the vehicle, ABC11 reported.

The driver hit the girl at slow speed, but despite rescue efforts, she later died, the station reported. No other participants were injured.

“They were trying to get us all out of the way,” dancer Cheyenne Hamilton, 17, told The News & Observer. “But unfortunately one of the dancers couldn’t get out of the way. They took (the dancer) out right in front of us.

The driver faces charges of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, improper equipment, dangerous movement and carrying a firearm while on parade, ACB11 reported.

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of the young girl who lost her life today in the Raleigh Christmas Parade,” Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said. “Our prayers are with his family, friends and the dancers of CC & Co. The community is here for you as we try to understand and process this shared tragedy.”

Video from ABC11 shows police, parade staff and members of the crowd running after the truck, eventually stopping it by hand.