An 8-year-old girl Macie Hill, has died after she was hit by a vehicle during a Fourth of July parade in Utah, according to her family.
Kaysville Fire Department confirmed on Facebook that Monday’s parade ended early “due to a medical emergency” on Main Street, which the Kaysville Police Department described as “an auto-pedestrian accident involving a parade vehicle and a participant.”
The young girl, Macie Hill, was allegedly on a float with her Patriot Cheer All Stars dance team prior to the accident, according to CBS affiliate KUTV. Hill’s family confirmed the girl’s death to the outlet.
Macie Hill was the youngest of four children, according to a GoFundMe campaign for the victim’s family.
“Macie’s dad said she loved her Patriot Cheer team,” the fundraiser states. “She loved cheering and Macie passed away doing what she loved, being with her team.”
Macie Hill was performing with the group when she was struck by a Hummer, according to FOX affiliate KTSU. The vehicle involved was with the group, per KTSU and CNN.
Resident Shawna Dennis told the outlets she was watching the parade with family when the “horrific” incident occurred.
“I don’t think people understood the seriousness of the situation at first,” she explained, adding that the sight left her “in shock.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” she said, per the outlets. “I glanced up and I see a little girl that was laying on the ground in that little dance company and the trailer, the back trailer just ran over the top of her.”
Dennis recalled hearing a woman yell, “Stop, stop, stop, you just ran over one of your girls!” at the driver of the car.
Macie Hill was transported to a local hospital “in critical condition,” according to police. A small memorial has since formed near the site of the accident, KUTV reported.
Kaysville police have not confirmed the girl’s death but offered their condolences to her loved ones in a post on Facebook.
“This is a tragic event,” the department wrote Monday, “and our hearts go out to the child’s family.”
Kaysville police officer Lexi Benson said Monday’s accident was an “absolute freak accident,” according to the Standard-Examiner.
“However, we will spend time and effort going back over things to see if we can do anything to prevent anything like this from happening again.”
The GoFundMe campaign started for Hill’s family will go toward medical and funeral expenses, according to its description.
“The family would like to express their thanks to all of the first responders and members of the community who jumped in to help Macie,” a description on the fundraiser said. “They would also like to thank the compassionate staff at Layton Parkway Hospital for the tender care they provided to Macie and to her family in the most devastating of circumstances.”