A peaceful holiday event turned into a scene of chaos on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the Bakersfield Christmas Parade in California when a pickup truck, driven by 72-year-old Alan Booth, plowed through the parade route, injuring three men.
The accident took place in downtown Bakersfield at 21st and H streets shortly before the parade’s scheduled start at 6 p.m.
The Bakersfield Police Department said that the crash happened around 5:30 p.m., when Booth backed his Ford F-150 at high speed into the crowd of parade-goers, subsequently hitting three individuals.
The victims included three men, a 77-year-old, a 42-year-old, and a 21-year-old, all of whom were seriously injured but listed as stable following the incident. The driver was arrested at the scene by police.
According to eyewitness testimonies, the driver initially positioned his truck in a south-facing direction within an alley situated just west of H Street, nestled between 21st and 20th streets.
Booth swiftly reversed in a northern direction down the alley, colliding with parade attendees. The vehicle proceeded across 21st Street, ultimately halting its movement near the 21st and H Streets intersection by the fire station.
Police indicate that alcohol intoxication could have played a role in the collision, and the driver appeared to be disoriented and belligerent, even attempting to fight officers as they detained him. Booth has been arrested for suspicion of felony DUI.
The impact of the crash was significant enough to delay the start of the Bakersfield Christmas Parade by about 45 minutes. The parade was eventually rerouted, beginning just before 7 pm. Parade officials and the Bakersfield Police Department worked together to ensure public safety and to reroute the parade while the police investigation continued at the scene of the incident.