2 Days 4 Dead Parade Float Accidents

Carnival parade float driver runs over brother

2008-02-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Carnival parade float driver runs over brother

2/2/2008, 10:35 p.m. CST The Associated Press

MAKSVILLE, La. (AP) — A 21-year-old driver towing a float in a Carnival parade ran over and killed his 16-year-old brother Saturday evening, state police said.

Clay Michael Sayer was between Kain N. Sayer's pickup truck and the float behind it, talking to riders on the float during a brief stop shortly before 5 p.m., according to a news release from Trooper Scott Moreau.

He said the younger Sayer was pinned by the float when the pickup truck started again.

Kain Sayer was booked with vehicular homicide — killing someone while driving drunk; first-offense drunk driving and careless driving, Moreau said.

The accident occurred about five miles north of the central Louisiana town of Marksville, a town of 5,800 about 75 miles northwest of Baton Rouge.

Hancock businessman Compretta dies in accident

2008-02-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

Posted on Sun, Feb. 03, 2008

Hancock businessman Compretta dies in accident

SUN HERALD

-- Hancock County businessman Jody Compretta died Saturday night in New Orleans as a result of an accident at the Endymion parade.

The Sun Herald has learned that Compretta, son of state Rep. J.P. Compretta, was reportedly riding on a float in the Krewe of Endymion parade. When the float stopped, Compretta got off, thinking the parade had ended. When the sectioned float began to move again, Compretta was knocked down and run over.

No other details are available at this time. Check back to sunherald.com for updates as details become available and in Monday's Sun Herald print edition for the full story.

Float Rider Killed During Endymion

2008-02-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

Float Rider Killed During Endymion

POSTED: 10:28 am CST February 3, 2008

UPDATED: 10:31 am CST February 3, 2008
NEW ORLEANS -- The return of Endymion was marked with tragedy.On Saturday night, a rider on the captain’s float fell off and was killed.The accident happened outside the Superdome just after the float paraded through the Endymion Extravaganza, which takes place inside the Superdome.The back of the Superdome, where the fatality occurred, was marked off with crime scene tape by the New Orleans Police Department.Investigators said it was an accident.“Our preliminary investigation reveals that the rider attempted to exit the back of the float prematurely and he fell off the float,” NOPD Officer Jonette Williams said. “The driver did not know the man had exited or fallen off and was therefore struck by the second, back portion of the float. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim is an adult male but we are not releasing his name at this time pending notification of his family.”In 2005, a Texas woman was killed at the Endymion Extravaganza. She fell from the Superdome’s second level to the floor while watching the parade. Copyright 2007 by WDSU.com. All rights reserved. T

Mansura Teen Killed In Parade Accident

2008-02-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Article published Feb 3, 2008
Mansura Teen Killed In Parade Accident
Town Talk Staff

Mardi Gras festivities in Avoyelles Parish were marred when Kain Sayer, 21, of Mansura struck and killed his 16-year-old brother, Clay, with a Mardi Gras float in tow behind a pick-up during a parade.

The truck had stopped on Community Center Road near La. Hwy. 107 around 5 p.m. Saturday. Clay Sayer was standing near the vehicle to talk to some of the participants when Sayer began pulling forward, pinning the boy under the float, according to a Louisiana State Police press release. He died at the scene.

Police charged Sayer with DWI, vehicular homicide and careless operation, according to the release.

The Avoyelles Parish Coroner's Office is investigating the cause of death.

This is the fourth fatality investigation conducted by Troop E since the beginning of the year.

published Feb 3, 2008