Five-year old girl dies in horrifying rodeo parade accident
By PAUL THOMPSON - 23rd February 2007
It has been revealed that Brielle was too young to be allowed in the parade
The tiny body of Brielle Boisvert is loaded in to an ambulance as paramedics rush her to the hospital
With one hand gripping the reigns of her horse, a young beauty pageant winner happily waves to the crowd.
But just moments later Brielle Boisvert was thrown to the ground and trampled to death by two horses pulling a wagon behind her.
The five-year old died in front of hundreds of horrified spectators at the Tuscon Rodeo Parade in Arizona.
Her parents Tom and Donnelle were among the crowd who witnessed the tragedy.
The couple now face possible criminal action after it was revealed Brielle was too young to be allowed in the parade.
Children under the age of eight are not allowed to ride a horse in the annual rodeo celebrations.
Brielle's parents are to be questioned by police to see if they defied the rules so their daughter could take part.
Family friend Monte Lunow said Brielle and her twin sister often took part in shows.
He said: "They are a very close family. The kids are home schooled.
"The mother taught them all music lessons, and the father taught them. They went to church every Sunday."
Brielle had been chosen to ride in the parade after winning the title 'Little Miss Sonoita', a beauty pageant held annually in the small Arizona town.
She was among a group of riders known as Sonoita's Rodeo Royalty.
The accident occurred after two horses pulling an open top wagon behind her horse were suddenly spooked.
They bolted forward, knocking Brielle from her saddle.
As well as being trampled by the horses, eyewitnesses said she was also crushed by one of the wagon wheels.
Shocked spectators lining the streets shielded their eyes, while many screamed in horror.
"People were gasping, screaming," said Diane Hebert, who was near the scene of the accident.
Her husband Henry said: "I saw the wagon coming around the corner out of control. They hit the horse, her horse flared up and the girl fell off."
An off-duty nurse and paramedic in the crowd rushed to help the injured girl, but she died 45 minutes later after being rushed to hospital.
Organisers of the parade have begun an inquiry into how Brielle was allowed to take part.
Bon Johnson, one of the parade organisers, said: "When we receive the applications we have no way of knowing their ages.
"We assume when we get them that they've read the rules."
Mayor of Tuscon Bob Walkup has warned that the accident could mean an end to the 85-year-old tradition.
He said: "We have to consider the impact of this tragedy on the future of the rodeo parade."
The event, billed as the world's longest non-mechanised parade, includes horses, marching bands, folk dancers and beauty queens.
It is one of the highlights of the annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo, a week-long event featuring more than 700 contestants from across the US and Canada.
The death was the first in the parade's history, although injuries are not uncommon.
At last year's event, Mayor Walkup bruised an arm and his wife, Beth, suffered a concussion and whiplash when two runaway horses slammed into the rear of a 150-year-old buggy.
My thoughts : she was only five years old there was no way she could ve been able to control the horse had it been startled. Also, the rules does state that the age requirement for this particular parade/ event, is 8.
Why was this over looked by the parents ?
This poor child suffered a horrible death. I cannot begin to imagine the pain the parents are going through.
I hope the Tuscon Rodeo make the necessary changes to its rules to prevent anything like this ever happening again.
What a tragedy.
Dailymailuk
By PAUL THOMPSON - 23rd February 2007
It has been revealed that Brielle was too young to be allowed in the parade
The tiny body of Brielle Boisvert is loaded in to an ambulance as paramedics rush her to the hospital
With one hand gripping the reigns of her horse, a young beauty pageant winner happily waves to the crowd.
But just moments later Brielle Boisvert was thrown to the ground and trampled to death by two horses pulling a wagon behind her.
The five-year old died in front of hundreds of horrified spectators at the Tuscon Rodeo Parade in Arizona.
Her parents Tom and Donnelle were among the crowd who witnessed the tragedy.
The couple now face possible criminal action after it was revealed Brielle was too young to be allowed in the parade.
Children under the age of eight are not allowed to ride a horse in the annual rodeo celebrations.
Brielle's parents are to be questioned by police to see if they defied the rules so their daughter could take part.
Family friend Monte Lunow said Brielle and her twin sister often took part in shows.
He said: "They are a very close family. The kids are home schooled.
"The mother taught them all music lessons, and the father taught them. They went to church every Sunday."
Brielle had been chosen to ride in the parade after winning the title 'Little Miss Sonoita', a beauty pageant held annually in the small Arizona town.
She was among a group of riders known as Sonoita's Rodeo Royalty.
The accident occurred after two horses pulling an open top wagon behind her horse were suddenly spooked.
They bolted forward, knocking Brielle from her saddle.
As well as being trampled by the horses, eyewitnesses said she was also crushed by one of the wagon wheels.
Shocked spectators lining the streets shielded their eyes, while many screamed in horror.
"People were gasping, screaming," said Diane Hebert, who was near the scene of the accident.
Her husband Henry said: "I saw the wagon coming around the corner out of control. They hit the horse, her horse flared up and the girl fell off."
An off-duty nurse and paramedic in the crowd rushed to help the injured girl, but she died 45 minutes later after being rushed to hospital.
Organisers of the parade have begun an inquiry into how Brielle was allowed to take part.
Bon Johnson, one of the parade organisers, said: "When we receive the applications we have no way of knowing their ages.
"We assume when we get them that they've read the rules."
Mayor of Tuscon Bob Walkup has warned that the accident could mean an end to the 85-year-old tradition.
He said: "We have to consider the impact of this tragedy on the future of the rodeo parade."
The event, billed as the world's longest non-mechanised parade, includes horses, marching bands, folk dancers and beauty queens.
It is one of the highlights of the annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo, a week-long event featuring more than 700 contestants from across the US and Canada.
The death was the first in the parade's history, although injuries are not uncommon.
At last year's event, Mayor Walkup bruised an arm and his wife, Beth, suffered a concussion and whiplash when two runaway horses slammed into the rear of a 150-year-old buggy.
My thoughts : she was only five years old there was no way she could ve been able to control the horse had it been startled. Also, the rules does state that the age requirement for this particular parade/ event, is 8.
Why was this over looked by the parents ?
This poor child suffered a horrible death. I cannot begin to imagine the pain the parents are going through.
I hope the Tuscon Rodeo make the necessary changes to its rules to prevent anything like this ever happening again.
What a tragedy.
Dailymailuk
