Following the tragic death of a 58 year-old woman during the Krewe of Nyx parade, local residents have set up a memorial near the site of the accident to honor the victim. People started leaving flowers at the location near Magazine and Valence Street on Thursday morning, and it has since expanded to include an assortment of bouquets, candles, and beads from well-wishers and mourners.
The devastating accident took place at 9 p.m. on Wednesday night, as the woman tried to cross the parade route between two hitched floats to reach for beads. The woman tripped on the attachment and was subsequently run over by the second half of the float. Float number 21, the contraption in question, immediately re-routed back to the krewe's staging area, followed by the remaining floats and walking troupes. Mayor LaToya Cantrell noted that this was "the proper thing to do" in order to respect the victim and to protect the safety of parade-goers.
The woman has not yet been identified, but it was revealed that she was a relative of two of the members of the Krewe of Nyx. Nyx is an all-female Carnival krewe named after the Greek goddess of the night, and with 3,348 members and 88 floats, it marks the largest parade of the Mardi Gras season. A spokesperson for the krewe's Captain, Julie Lea, stated regarding the accident, "On such a joyous night, this is obviously a tragic occurrence". She added, "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."
These sentiments are echoed by the many people who have shown their support, particularly at the make-shift memorial. Well-wishers have continued to leave notes and flowers at the Magazine Street site, even as rain poured down heavily during the early hours of the day. As New Orleanians come together to honor the victim, it provides a powerful reminder of the importance of safety during the Carnival season, and the value of the local community.
