A 7-year-old boy from Baltimore who died during the Annapolis Fourth of July parade was struck by a trailer being towed from a van driven by his grandfather, Annapolis police said.
Kyle Aldridge had been sitting on the side of a homemade, single-axle trailer that was carrying a motorcycle that performs wheelie simulations, advertising a company called iWHEELiE.com, police said.
The boy got off the trailer, fell to the ground and was struck by the trailer's tire, police said. The incident happened at 7:11 p.m. as the van and trailer were lining up on Amos Garrett Boulevard to join the annual parade.
The boy was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center, where he died, police said.
The driver of the 2005 GMC Savana van that was towing the iWHEELiE.com trailer was identified as the boy's grandfather, 43-year-old Jason Hicks of Glen Burnie.
Driver error, drugs and alcohol were not factors in the accident, police said. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call Officer David Higgins at 410-268-9000.
Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen met with the boy's family at the hospital. He released a statement through police that said: "It's an unbelievably tragic accident. Our entire community's thoughts and prayers are with the family."
The parade began at 6:30 p.m. at Amos Garrett Boulevard and West Street, continuing down West, around Church Circle and down Main Street.
The accident is being investigated by the Annapolis Police Department Traffic Safety Unit.
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