Paraders march down Lakeshore Boulevard at the Caribbean Carnival in Toronto on Saturday, August 3, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu
August 04, 2013 - 6:41 AM
TORONTO - Toronto police are appealing for witnesses as they investigate the death of a young man who fell from a parade float at the city's Caribbean Carnival.
The 18-year-old had been riding on the float Saturday night when he fell and was run over by the vehicle just before 9 p.m..
Police say the young man suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he later died.
Officials are examining a video posted on the Internet which appears to show the immediate aftermath of the incident.
The clip appears to show confusion on the crowded parade route, with the crowd yelling for the float to stop as it slowly starts moving after a brief pause.
Organizers of the parade are expressing their "heartfelt sympathies" to those who knew the young man.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss," spokeswoman Denise Herrera-Jackson said in a statement.
"The Toronto police are conducting a full and thorough investigation and we will assist them in any way we can."
An autopsy is set to take place today.
The young man's name has not been released.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013