NEW ORLEANS -- The return of Endymion was marked with tragedy.

 

On Saturday night, a rider on the captain’s float fell off and was killed.

 

The accident happened outside the Superdome just after the float paraded through the Endymion Extravaganza, which takes place inside the Superdome.

 

The back of the Superdome, where the fatality occurred, was marked off with crime scene tape by the New Orleans Police Department.

 

Investigators said it was an accident.

 

“Our preliminary investigation reveals that the rider attempted to exit the back of the float prematurely and he fell off the float,” NOPD Officer Jonette Williams said. “The driver did not know the man had exited or fallen off and was therefore struck by the second, back portion of the float. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim is an adult male but we are not releasing his name at this time pending notification of his family.”

 

In 2005, a Texas woman was killed at the Endymion Extravaganza. She fell from the Superdome’s second level to the floor while watching the parade.

Copyright 2007 by WDSU.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Additional story:

http://www.wdsu.com/news/15205376/detail.html

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