BOYERTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A community in Berks County has rallied behind a young boy injured after being trapped underneath a float during the town’s annual Halloween parade last weekend.
Nico Rizzo, 8, was hurt on Saturday during an annual Halloween parade in Boyertown. “Nico got off of the float and he was handing out candy along the parade route,” said his mother, Jessica Rizzo.
According to Rizzo, there are different accounts of exactly what happened. She shared Nico’s recollection of events with KYW Newsradio.
“He ran out of candy in his bucket and he has told me that he hopped up to try to get back onto the float,” she explained. “It started moving so that [dragged] his leg under the tire.”
Rizzo said parade-goers rushed to the boy’s aid. “His coaches and other people that were there saw it and lifted up the back of the trailer. And somebody along there was an EMT and that kind man pulled him out.”
One of Nico’s football coaches was driving the float that left the boy with a broken femur and in need of several surgeries, Rizzo said.
She called the whole ordeal an unfortunate accident and says Nico — who is now home from the hospital — has been keeping a positive attitude about his recovery.
A GoFundMe has raised more than $25,000 dollars to help cover his medical expenses, while the Peppermint Stick Candy Store and Ice Cream Parlor will donate a portion of its sales on Nov. 4 to the Rizzo family.