Baker High School students hospitalized after falling out of homecoming parade float

BAKER COUNTY, Fla. — Two Baker County High School students were rushed to a hospital after falling from a float during a homecoming parade Thursday night.

Florida Highway Patrol told Action News Jax the float was being towed by a pick-up truck.

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Troopers told Action News Jax the two students fell of a homecoming float at the intersection of West Stansell Avenue and West Boulevard.

Neighbors say the float was so tall it got caught in the branches of a nearby tree and flipped over completely.

Baker County High School homecoming parade is tradition.

But that spirit shattered Thursday night when, troopers say, two students fell from a float as the driver was making a right turn near the school’s football stadium.

“It was terrifying, so, I don’t know; it’s scary,” said parent Gaylene Shoemaker.

“Not a good thing,” parent William Bransford added.

Gaylene Shoemaker says her daughter, who is a senior, was there when it happened.

“I just think it was kids being kids; accidents happen,” Shoemaker said.

But parents, like William Bransford, believe the fall could have been prevented.

“Obviously, the coordinator, or whatever, needs to be sure and be aware all of what is going on around them and where they are going to be putting the floats so that accidents don’t happen,” said Bransford.

The two students, who have not been named, were taken to Ed Frasier Memorial Hospital, and the other student was transported to UF Health Jacksonville with minor injuries.

“I’ll be asking my daughter about it today,” said Bransford.

Action News Jax asked Baker County School District leaders about the incident, but we have not heard anything back yet.

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Cox Media Group