Pictured: Truck driver, 77, who slammed into Fort Lauderdale Pride parade and fellow member of gay men's chorus group he unintentionally killed as he apologizes for 'horrible accident'
A member of the gay men's choir who crashed into fellow chorists, killing a 75-year-old at the start of the Pride parade in South Florida, has claimed it was all 'a horrible accident.'
Fred Johnson Jr., 77, of Oakland Park, killed James Fahy and wounded Jerry Vroegh, 67, and Gary Keating, 69, when he plowed a Dodge Ram truck into the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus in Wilton Manors on Saturday.
Shortly after being named by police on Monday evening, Johnson released a statement, saying: 'This was a horrible accident and I offer my sincere regrets to all those who were impacted by this tragic event.
'I love my Chorus family and the community and would never do anything to intentionally harm anyone.
'Please know that I hold my fellow Chorus member, Jim Fahy, in my heart forever and offer my condolences to his friends and family.'
Police said their investigations remain ongoing but the evidence suggests that it was indeed a 'terrible accident.'
Johnson had ailments 'preventing him from walking the duration of the parade' and was selected to drive the truck bearing the choir's banner instead of walking with fellow members, the cops said.
As the vehicle started rolling off for the start of the parade, it accelerated suddenly, smashing into pedestrians and then continuing wildly across both lanes until it crashed through the fence of a garden centre.
Johnson told cops afterwards that his foot had become jammed between the gas and brake pedals.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who is the city's first gay mayor, had caused confusion in the immediate aftermath as he told reporters that it was a 'terrorist attack against the LGBT', before later announcing on Twitter that it appeared to be an accident.
Asked if he wanted to apologise for those comments last night, he said: 'The apology needs to come from the person who perpetrated this act.'
Chorus members last night revealed their heartbreak at losing 'sweet and shy' James Fahy as they rallied around Johnson who they said was 'beside himself' with guilt.
DRIVER and VICTIM: Fred Johnson Jr., 77, of Oakland Park, (left) killed James Fahy, 75, (right) when he plowed a Dodge Ram truck into the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus in Wilton Manors on Saturday.
The driver and the victims were a part of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men´s Chorus family, a small 25-member group of mostly older men. Fahy is seen with a yellow tie at the front and centre, while Johnson is seen in a purple tie in the front row to the left.
As the vehicle started rolling off for the start of the parade, it accelerated suddenly, smashing into pedestrians and then continuing wildly across both lanes until it crashed through the fence of a garden centre
The video shows the pickup truck, flying a rainbow flag, driving through a fence and hitting plants at Fort Lauderdale Garden Center
Police and firefighters respond after a truck drove into a crowd of people during The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival in Wilton Manors, Florida on Saturday
'I talked to him yesterday and today,' chorus member Bradley Bush said. 'He´s just really, really beside himself. ... It´s going to be a burden that he´s going to carry the rest of his life.'
Bush said Johnson sang alongside him in the tenor section for more than a decade, adding 'he´s an absolutely amazing person. He wouldn't hurt a fly.'
Bush described Fahy as a sweet and shy man who volunteered in the community and was incredibly dedicated to the chorus, always promoting their concerts to outsiders. Fahy worked in the cruise industry, had a large network of friends and loved singing Christmas music, friends said.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis initially told reporters the act was deliberate
The chorus hasn't met since the accident. They typically rehearse on Wednesdays and Bush said he anticipated some sort of informal memorial to grieve privately. He said many in the group are numb and still in disbelief.
'We are a family,' said Bush, who has been a member since 2003. 'You get close to them quickly because you´re on stage with them, you´re sharing weekly or more rehearsals.'
Choir president Justin Knight said in a statement: 'It is with much regret that we confirm that Chorus member Jim Fahy was killed in the tragic accident which happened during the start of the Stonewall Pride Parade.
'He was a longtime, valued member of our Chorus family and he will be deeply missed. We wish a speedy recovery for Chorus member Jerry Vroegh who was injured at the accident. We thank everyone for their concern, compassion and support.'
The tragedy occurred 7pm Saturday evening in Wilton Manors, 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, just as The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival began.
Crowd-goers waved flags and Mardi Gras beads, anticipating what should have been a celebration of life and love South Florida gay community. But festivities quickly turned into terror as gleeful cheers were drowned by the sounds of sirens and crying children.
Surveillance video shows the moment the truck, flying a rainbow flag, drove through a fence and knocked into plants at Fort Lauderdale Garden Center.
Witness Michael Albetta, regional director for Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, was about to walk the parade route alongside U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch when he heard the truck's engine unexpectedly revving.
Police and firefighters responded to the scene shortly after 7pm on Saturday. One person has been declared dead, two others were injured
Johnson was pictured being taken into custody after the 'horrible accident.' He told cops his foot got jammed between the gas and brake pedals
Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was in attendance at the event, and the driver is reported to have 'narrowly' missed hitting her as he plowed into the participants
'You hear the engine roaring and galloping with more speed. All of a sudden you heard `thump, thump, thump,´ and those were the bodies he was hitting,' Albetta said.
He said the truck narrowly missed U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's vehicle, somehow jumped the curb and came straight down on the victims, before careening into a fence on the opposite side of the road.
Photos and video from the scene showed Schultz in tears while in a convertible at the parade.
In a statement Saturday night, Wasserman Schultz said she was safe but 'deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost.'
'I am so heartbroken by what took place at this celebration,' she said. 'May the memory of the life lost be for a blessing.'
She missed being hit by the truck by 'a matter of inches'.
A Local10 reporter shared this image, purportedly showing the white pick-up truck after it plowed into the participants and ended up in a nearby nursery
Stunned spectators were seen fleeing after the car plowed through the crowd
Police and first responders were seen as a man lay on the road following the crash
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is comforted after a truck drove into a crowd of people during The Stonewall Pride Parade
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was also at the parade, and sent out a message to her followers after the tragedy.
'I'm lucky to be safe, but at least two people were hit and are in critical condition,' she wrote.
'All of us here all praying for them and their families.'
Police tweeted Saturday night that the parade was canceled due to a 'tragic event.' The department said the public is not in danger.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said on Facebook that he had also been at the scene.
A float is seen laying abandoned after the parade was cancelled due to the tragedy
'This tragedy took place within feet of me and my (Broward Sheriff's Office) team, and we are devastated having witnessed this horrific incident,' he said.
'Our prayers are with the victims and their families. Be sure to hug the ones you love tonight.'
June is Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots sparked by repeated police raids on a popular gay bar in New York. The demonstrations proved to be a turning point in the LGBTQ community's struggle for civil rights.
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