WESTCLIFFE — A 15-year-old Custer County High School student died Saturday after she was run over by an 18-wheel truck pulling the rainbow-decorated sophomore class float in the homecoming parade. The girl, a sophomore, attempted to climb the front of the truck shortly after it had finished the short trip down Main Street and was turning around. She slipped and was crushed by the front wheels, Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe said. “It was supposed to be a fun time, a big day for kids,” Jobe said. “It’s just so tragic.”
About 400 people turned out to watch the 10:15 a.m. parade. Ginger Koudsi, whose daughter was playing in the band for the parade, said “the town is devastated. It’s hard for something this joyful to turn into a tragedy.”
The girl was taken to a clinic in Westcliffe and later transported by helicopter to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, where she died.
School superintendent Lance Viller said the homecoming game and dance were canceled, and there will be no classes Monday at the school of 180 students. “It’s a big deal for this community,” he said.
The girl’s name had not been released by Saturday evening.
Annette Espinoza and Electa Draper, The Denver Post
