Nine hurt as hayride rolls

Nine persons, seven of them children, were injured Saturday afternoon when a trailer being used as a kids’ hayride for the Fall Music Festival flipped onto its side in downtown Rockdale.

Rockdale Police Lt. Stephen Goodrich said at least two persons sustained serious injuries with the most seriously injured being a 26-year-old Rock-dale father who attempted to shield his three children from the impact.

HAYRIDE—Lt. Goodrich said the accident occurred at 3:52 p.m. on Burleson Street just south of its intersection with Cameron Avenue (US 79).

Goodrich said a small Suzuki truck, driven by Barkley Alford, 63, of Rock-dale—a volunteer for the Rockdale Historical Society—attempted to make a U-turn as part of its route, carrying children on a hayride during Saturday’s festival.

“The truck was pulling a homemade trailer constructed specifically for hayrides,” Goodrich said.

“It appears some of the wheels made contact with the curb and went up onto the curb,” he said. “The loss of balance caused the trailer to tip over onto its side, ejecting all its passengers.”

Goodrich said Abel Hernandez attempted to shield his three children, riding in the trailer with their father, from hitting the street and bore the brunt of the impact.

“He looked to have a back injury,” Goodrich said. “He was flown to Baylor Scott & White in Temple.”

Goodrich said one of Hernandez’s children sustained a broken arm and was taken to the Temple hospital by private vehicle.

SCRAPES—Others injured as a result of the incident were 28-year-old Nancy Mendez of Rockdale and the four other children who were riding in the hayride trailer.

“Those injuries, appeared to be of the scrapes, bumps and scratches variety,” Goodrich said. “There were a lot of hurt hands. When the trailer overturned that was the natural reaction, to put hands out to break their falls.”

AMR ambulance personnel treated victims at the scene. The Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

“Fortunately, nobody was trapped under the trailer, “ Goodrich said. “There was no need to free anyone. Everyone was out and sitting curbside.”

CITATIONS—Goodrich said the driver was assessed three citations, one each for failure to maintain financial responsibility, failure to control speed and operating a motor vehicle without registration.