On Saturday night during the 32nd annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, a motorcycle crash resulted in ten people being sent to the hospital. The accident occurred near the intersection of Palm Canyon Drive and Amado Road at around 6 p.m.
According to reports, a motorcycle officer was performing a wheelie trick, when he abruptly lost control of his bike and was thrown off. The driverless motorcycle continued to move and eventually struck a crowd of spectators. The officer involved in the accident reportedly suffered a severed hand in the course of events.
Nine spectators who were injured in the incident were transported to local hospitals with injuries that, while serious, were not life-threatening. These facts were confirmed by the Palm Springs police department.
The parade, which typically sees a turnout between 80,000 and 100,000 attendees every year, was briefly paused following the accident but was resumed later. Photographic evidence reveals a scene of chaos, with attendees rushing to help the injured and the officers motorcycle lying near the crowd.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. Anyone with video footage or images of the crash is being encouraged to send them to [email protected]. The community support in the wake of the accident has been appreciated and thoughts are being extended to the officer, his family, and all those affected by this unfortunate incident.
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