Investigators are trying to determine what happened, how a parade float carrying wounded veterans and their wives was struck by a train at a crossing in Midland, Texas, killing four of the vets Thursday afternoon.
According to ABC News, at least two of the veterans died after pushing their wives off the float, saving the women’s lives. Seventeen people were hurt in the crash.
What was envisioned as an event to honor veterans turned into a horror show instead. About two dozen people were seated in chairs on a flatbed truck that was headed to an honorary “Hunt for Heroes” dinner for the vets. There were actually two floats, and the first one went over a rail crossing with no problems.
But the second float was hit by a Union Pacific train. That train was sounding its horn, and the crossing’s lights and gates were working. No one knows why the float still tried to proceed through the crossing.
Army Sgt. Maj. Gary Stouffer, 37, and Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin, 47, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to ABC News. Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34, and Sgt. Maj. William Lubbers, 43, were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Both Michael and Boivin pushed their wives off the float, to safety.