We now know the identity of the woman killed by a float at last night’s Nyx parade. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s office identified the victim as 58-year old Geraldine Carmouche. Witnesses say she was reaching for beads between a tandem float as the parade went down magazine Street when the back half of the float ran her over, crushing her to death. It is not clear if the woman was a local to New Orleans.
All the floats before float 21, which hit her, were allowed to continue but the floats behind the accident were not allowed to proceed down the rest of the route. Some marching bands and walking groups were detoured around the accident site.
Nyx parade Captain Julie Lea released a statement shortly after the accident saying, “On such a joyous night, this is obviously a tragic occurrence," She adds, "The parade takes a back seat when something like this happens on the route. On behalf of the entire Krewe of Nyx, along with the city of New Orleans, we offer our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the individual involved."