A holiday parade in California turned into a nightmare when a police officer on a motorcycle lost control and plowed into the crowd, cutting off his own hand.
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At least one child and two seniors were among the ten injured at the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, December 7th. The City of Palm Springs confirmed via Facebook that the officer’s crash occurred around 6:00 p.m., injuring several people who were all treated at local hospitals. Their injuries were described as not life-threatening, and the parade was temporarily paused but eventually resumed. More troubling, the officer’s hand was reportedly severed in the accident.
Witnesses described the officer losing control of his motorcycle while performing a trick. Veronica Ortiz, an eyewitness from Pittsburg, California, recounted seeing the officer pop a wheelie and then skid uncontrollably into the crowd, severing his hand in the process.
“We did see him go sideways, and let go of the bike. It went straight into the crowd,” she said. Palm Springs Police Department spokesperson Gustavo Araiza downplayed reports of a stunt, calling them a “rumor” and adding that California Highway Patrol would conduct an investigation. Meanwhile, eventgoers like Byron Ruvalcaba expressed concerns over the officer’s speed before the crash, estimating it to be between 25 to 35 miles per hour.
The Palm Springs Police Chief, Andy Mills, called the crash an “unfortunate accident” in a statement, expressing sorrow for the injuries and pledging a thorough investigation. The California Highway Patrol is now seeking any available video or images to aid in their inquiry.
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