10-Year-Old Recovering After Being Run Over By Homecoming Float
MERCER (KDKA)- A 10-year-old student is recovering after being run over by a float in a homecoming parade in Mercer County.
The elementary school student had to be flown to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. Police say Nicholas King fell from a float during the homecoming parade and the float ended up running him over.
"We get off and I see him lying under the tire and I just went into panic mode. They told us to keep marching down to the high school," said Zaleigh King, the sister of 10-year-old Nick King, who fell off the float, describes the moments when her little brother was run over by the float he'd been riding just moments earlier.
Zaleigh King recalled, "I look over and I see all the players who are sitting next to him freaking out and then my dad yells, 'Is that my son?'"
Nick and Zaleigh were on the float with their father, Don, the coach of the Mercer Junior High Football Team as it made its way down West Butler Street. The players were on the float as well.
"I was sitting on the opposite side," said Zaleigh King, "so I didn't see exactly how he fell off."
Nick King was flown to UPMC Children's Hospital to be treated for his injuries. His father posted updates about his son on his facebook page. He posted, "Got to see Nick again. He responded to some questions with a head nod and finger squeeze when asked about his X Box. Blood work looks good, but we are still in tricky waters."
In Mercer, there's an outpouring of support for the fifth grader, who attends Mercer Elementary.
Ronald Rowe, assistant superintendent of Mercer Area Schools said, "The Mercer school district absolutely pours out our thoughts and prayers for both the students and their families and our best well wishes to them."
Nick King's grandfather Wesley Zigo, said "It's really a good community and you get lots of support from people you don't even know, so it's a very good thing."
Counselors are at both Mercer Area Schools today. They are available to speak students who may want to talk about what happened at the homecoming parade.
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