At least ten people have been injured following a motorbike accident at the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade. The incident occurred on December 7th, 2024, at around 6 PM. A motorcycle cop crashed into the crowd.
Videos by Wide Open Country
It's a little tricky to determine precisely what occurred, but according to Desert Sun, eyewitness accounts say that the officer lost control of their bike while "performing a trick." Videos taken during the parade allegedly show the rider performing a wheelie before falling off.
The unmanned vehicle then plowed into a nearby crowd, with a child and two elderly bystanders among the casualties. Fortunately, the injuries aren't life-threatening, and festival-goers are being treated at local hospitals.
On a much more dour note, an eyewitness report from a nurse at the scene suggests that the officer lost their hand while attempting the motorbike trick. Another eventgoer near the motorcycle crash noted the officer was riding "surprisingly fast" before the incident.
Conflicting Reports Of Motorcycle Accident
Amidst numerous eyewitness accounts, Palm Springs Public Information Officer Kitty Alvarado has described the wheelie trick as a "rumor." They also explained that an investigation would be carried out by the California Highway Patrol.
The
Palm Springs City Government's Facebook page is requesting any images and videos that may aid the investigation. Still, the comments suggest many aren't happy with the response.Stevie Nicole responded to the advisory message: "The officers on motorcycles were driving so recklessly i couldn't believe it." "I even recorded them almost crashing before it happened."
Jesse Vega posted, "My family couldn't believe they were doing wheelies and donuts in such a small area with kids around." Alleging other tricks were being performed at the parade.
Another eyewitness on Facebook, Randy Economy, questions how the parade was allowed to continue after the accident. He said it should have been immediately canceled.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills promptly apologized on
his Facebook account for the incident, adding, "I feel terrible about the accident and injuries to the very people we protect." He also confirmed complete traffic and administrative investigations would be carried out.Andy finished his message by saying he would report back to the community after the investigations and that he was truly sorry.
