Girl hit by vehicle in July 4 parade in Utah, badly injured

KAYSVILLE, Utah (AP) — An 8-year-old suffered critical injuries when she was struck by a vehicle while participating in a July 4 parade in Kaysville, north of Salt Lake City, police said Monday.

The girl was in the parade as part of a cheerleading program and was hit by a vehicle belonging to the organization, Police Officer Lexi Benson told KUTV-TV.

As the severity of the injury became apparent, officials canceled the parade.

The girl’s name was not released, but officials said she was hospitalized in critical condition.

“It’s absolutely tragic. My heart is breaking for the family,” said Kaysville Mayor Tami Tran. “I know that we’re all very concerned for them.”

Police closed the street for several hours to investigate.

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This story has been changed to show police have corrected the girl’s age to 8, not 12.