Parents of girl killed in parade tragedy ask lawmakers to improve safety standards
Five months after his 11-year-old daughter died while participating in the Raleigh Christmas parade, Trey Brooks asked lawmakers for laws to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Posted — Updated"We all take for granted when we show up that all safety guidance is being followed," he followed.
The Brooks family's assumptions were shattered with the death of Hailey, who was marching with C.C. & Co. dancers on the day of the 2022 parade when a truck lost control and plowed into her group, killing her.
Her family believes there were standards not in place, and they are taking to the courts and state legislature to fight for stricter guidelines, including, Trey Brooks said, "the background check of the driver and inspection of the vehicle.
The Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act would apply to cities over 35,000 people, and would mandate drivers be 25.
The bill also asks for vehicle safety inspections done at least seven days prior to the parade by law enforcement or a local fire department. In a lawsuit against Glass and parade organizers, Hailey's family says his truck was unfit to be on the road.
"At the time of the parade, the emergency brake cable could be seen disconnected and dangling beneath the driver’s side door of the truck," the lawsuit reads.
That is just one claim from the 56-page lawsuit.
The Brooks family claims that C.C. & Co. Dance Complex, was trying to save money in hiring Glass to drive the truck that pulled a trailer of young dancers.
The trailer, according to the suit:
- had no brakes
- was not legal to operate in the parade
- was not authorized for use on public highways except for farm use
- "was unsafe and unsuitable to be towed behind hundreds of children."
Christy Curtis with C.C. & Co. responded with this statement on Wednesday:
“We’ve only just recently learned of the lawsuit and our legal team will be reviewing the filing. As a longstanding dance institution, we have always prioritized the safety and well-being of our students and we take these allegations very seriously. Our staff remains dedicated to providing a nurturing environment that fosters learning, growth, and a passion for dance.”
Also named in the lawsuit is the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, which puts on the parade. The family claims the merchants "failed to establish, adopt and enforce an adequate written safety plan that provided for risk mitigation, contingency planning, and communication among event participants in the event of an emergency."
The lawsuits points to:
- a lack of safety checks of trucks or trailers
- no background checks for drivers
- a lack of safety briefings for participants.
The merchants association did not respond on Wednesday to WRAL's questions.
The Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act has one more committee stop, then it heads to the House floor for a full vote.
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