Woman killed in Louisville St. Patrick’s Day parade float accident described as ‘force for good’
THE 70S ONCE AGAIN, THE SEVEN DAYS COMING UP NEXT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU JAY. WELL, TONIGHT WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE WOMAN KILLED DURING LOUISVILLE ZOO SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. POLICE SAY 50 YEAR OLD JOAN POTTINGER DIED AFTER SHE FELL UNDER A PARADE FLOAT. WLKY DEANDRIA TURNER SPOKE WITH HER HUSBAND AND WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ABOUT THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO RUSHED IN TO HELP. WELL, WE’RE STILL LEARNING NEW DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT LED UP TO THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. ONE THING WE DID LEARN IS ABOUT A RESERVE DEPUTY WHO RAN STRAIGHT TO THE SCENE TO HELP WITH LIFE SAVING MEASURES. THIS IS 50 YEAR OLD JOAN POTTINGER WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN. JOAN DIED SATURDAY AFTER POLICE SAY HER FOOT BECAME CAUGHT IN A PARADE FLOAT. SHE WAS WALKING BESIDE, CAUSING HER TO FALL AND BECOME TRAPPED UNDERNEATH HER HUSBAND. TONY TELLS US WHAT HAPPENED WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT. THEY WERE WITH A FLOAT ORGANIZED BY MEMBERS OF THEIR CHURCH, SAINT AGNES, AND THEIR SCHOOL. TONY SAYS JOAN LOVED SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADES AND WAS EXCITED TO BE THERE. IN A STATEMENT, HE THANKED THE CROWD WHO TRIED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRST RESPONDS WHO FOUGHT TO SAVE HER. ONE OF THEM, A JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESERVE DEPUTY, A VOLUNTEER WHO RUSHED TO HELP HER, CAME OUT ON THE RADIO AND JUST IMMEDIATELY RESPONSED. CHIEF DEPUTY STEVE HEALEY SAYS THE FIRST RESPONDERS DIDN’T HESITATE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO JUST GO INTO ACTION, TONY SAYS. JOAN LIVED THE SAME WAY. SHE WAS NAMED. LIKE THE SAINT, SHE SHARED A NAME WITH FIERCELY LOYAL AND FAITHFUL. THEY WERE A MILITARY FAMILY WHO MOVED OFTEN BEFORE EVENTUALLY SETTLING IN LOUISVILLE. HE SAID JOAN ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO SERVE AND HELP THOSE IN NEED, MOST RECENTLY FUNDRAISING FOR BEST BUDDIES, THE NONPROFIT SHE WORKED FOR A DAY THAT WAS MEANT FOR CELEBRATION. NOW, JOAN’S FAMILY IS HOLDING TIGHT TO THE MEMORIES OF A WOMAN WHO SPENT HER LIFE LIFTING OTHERS UP. DEANDRIA TURNER WLKY NEWS. SO SAD. WELL, IN THE DAYS SINCE THE ACCIDENT, THE COMMUNITY IS RALLYING AROUND HER FAMILY, INCLUDING THROUGH A GOFUNDME, WHICH HAS RAISED NEARLY $40,000. THE ARCHBISHOP OF LOUISVILLE ALSO RELEASED A STATEMENT EXTENDING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND THE SAI
Woman killed in Louisville St. Patrick’s Day parade float accident described as ‘drive for good’
Updated: 5:49 PM EDT Mar 16, 2026
The coroner has recognized the girl who died after getting caught on a float throughout Louisville’s massive St. Patrick’s Day parade.The annual parade takes place the Saturday earlier than the vacation on Bardstown Road.Police stated that roughly an hour into Saturday’s parade, round 4 pm, they had been known as as a result of a girl who was strolling subsequent to a float bought her foot caught in it, inflicting her to fall and get caught underneath the car.That girl has been recognized as Joan Pannuti Pottinger, 50.Police stated the car stopped and Pottinger was given first assist. She was taken to a hospital, however died in the ER. Her husband, Tony Pottinger, despatched this picture:He described what occurred as “truly a freak accident.” He stated she was marching with members of their church, St. Agnes, when she was caught underneath the rear wheels. We’re advised a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reserve deputy rushed in to assist her. “We appreciate the work of the crowd in lifting up the vehicle and the professionalism of the first responder,” Tony stated. He offered this assertion about Joan’s character: “Joan, like the saint for whom she was named, was fiercely loyal and faithful. She was (and remains) the light of our lives as a mom, wife, and friend. We are a military family and before settling in our forever home in Louisville, we made multiple moves. In every community, Joan has been a passionate force for good, volunteering her time and helping those in need, including in her most recent work fundraising for Best Buddies. We are blessed at the outpouring of community support as we mourn our loss,” he stated. To assist her household, you possibly can donate to this GoFundMe.The archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville launched a press release on Monday, as properly. “I was saddened to learn about the death of Joan Pottinger, a parent of St. Agnes Catholic School and parishioner of St. Agnes Church, who was killed Saturday at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I want to express my condolences to her husband and her children as they deal with this profound loss. “Furthermore, I wish to lengthen my sympathy to the St. Agnes group who knew and liked Joan. Please know we’re grieving with you.I invite the Archdiocese of Louisville to affix me in praying for the repose of her soul, her household, and the St. Agnes School group.Eternal relaxation grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual gentle shine about her. May her soul, and all of the souls of the trustworthy departed, via the mercy of God, relaxation in peace,” Archbishop Shelton Fabre said. Parade organizers, The Hibernian Cultural and Charitable Association, Inc, released a statement as well. It read, in part, “It is, nevertheless, deeply saddened by the tragic accident at this 12 months’s parade. Its members’ hearts and prayers are with the household, and everybody was impacted by the incident.”
The coroner has recognized the girl who died after getting caught on a float throughout Louisville’s massive St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The annual parade takes place on Saturday earlier than the vacation on Bardstown Road.
Police stated that roughly an hour into Saturday’s parade, round 4 pm, they had been known as as a result of a girl who was strolling subsequent to a float bought her foot caught in it, inflicting her to fall and get caught underneath the car.
That girl has been recognized as Joan Pannuti Pottinger, 50.
Police stated the car stopped and Pottinger was given first assist. She was taken to a hospital, however died in the ER.
Her husband, Tony Pottinger, despatched this picture:
He described what occurred as “truly a freak accident.” He stated she was marching with members of their church, St. Agnes, when she was caught underneath the rear wheels.
We’re advised a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reserve deputy rushed in to assist her.
“We appreciate the work of the crowd in lifting up the vehicle and the professionalism of the first responders,” Tony stated.
I’ve offered this assertion about Joan’s character:
“Joan, like the saint for whom she was named, was fiercely loyal and faithful. She was (and remains) the light of our lives as a mom, wife, and friend. We are a military family and before settling in our forever home in Louisville, we made multiple moves. In every community, Joan has been a passionate force for good, volunteering her time and helping those in need, including in her most recent work fundraising for Best Buddies. We are blessed at the outpouring of community support as we mourn our loss,” he stated.
To assist her household, you can donate to this GoFundMe.
The archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville launched a press release on Monday, as properly.
“I was saddened to learn about the death of Joan Pottinger, a parent of St. Agnes Catholic School and parishioner of St. Agnes Church, who was killed Saturday at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I want to express my condolences to her husband and her children as they deal with this profound loss.
“Furthermore, I wish to lengthen my sympathy to the St. Agnes group who knew and liked Joan. Please know we’re grieving with you. I invite the Archdiocese of Louisville to affix me in praying for the repose of her soul, her household, and the St. Agnes School group. Eternal relaxation grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual gentle shine about her. May her soul, and all of the souls of the trustworthy departed, via the mercy of God, relaxation in peace,” Archbishop Shelton Fabre said.
Parade organizers, The Hibernian Cultural and Charitable Association, Inc, released a statement as well. It read, in part, “It is, nevertheless, deeply saddened by the tragic accident at this 12 months’s parade. Its members’ hearts and prayers are with the household, and all impacted by the incident.”
