A woman lost her life in a tragic incident during a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Louisville, Kentucky, over the weekend. She was identified as Joan Panuti Pottinger, 50, a globetrotter and mother of two.
During the parade, Pottinger was walking next to a float with hay bales that was attached to a gray pickup truck. Somehow, her foot got caught in the vehicle.
Moments later, she was dragged underneath the float. Nearby volunteers and participants immediately rushed to help, bringing the procession to a standstill.
Sadly, Pottinger was pronounced dead at the University of Louisville Hospital shortly after.
Initially, many spectators were unaware that an injury had occurred.
David Gunamba, a food vendor at the event, expressed his shock. He witnessed paramedics carry Pottinger away on a stretcher and was taken aback when he heard rumors of a death, not having thought the situation was “so serious.”
“It’s really heartbreaking because that was a person who lost his life…This is not the news we want to hear,” he reflected.
Stephanie Yustra, a volunteer mascot, shared her sorrow, noting that as she completed part of her route, she noticed the float behind her had suddenly stopped. Word about the accident quickly circulated.
“My heart goes out to everyone who was on that float and to their families. I can’t even imagine what they’re going through,” she said.
Friends and family confirmed Pottinger’s passing through social media posts. After a decade at Kraft Foods, she took a break and transitioned to a nonprofit, Best Buddies International, in 2024, quickly rising from development coordinator to mission advancement director for Kentucky.
In her spare time, Pottinger enjoyed traveling with her husband and two daughters, aged 9 and 13, which she often shared on her Facebook.
A GoFundMe was initiated by close friends to honor her memory and the impact she had on those around her. It reached its initial goal within a day, with donations nearing $50,000 by Monday evening.
