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Sparks fly after Richmond Canada Day float hits power line

The Richmond Community Concert Band float hit the line on Francis Road on Saturday afternoon
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This Canada Day float was involved in an accident north of Steveston after the Salmon Festival parade. Kristene Murray photo

A Canada Day float from the Steveston Salmon Festival was involved in a scary incident just north of the village after the parade.

A section of Francis Road, just west of Railway Avenue, was completely blocked off at around noon on Saturday.

In photos taken by local resident Kristene Murray, the Richmond Community Concert Band float – which was being pulled by a semi-truck – was behind police cones at the site.

Gordon Smith, president of the Richmond Community Band Society, told the Richmond News that their truck hit a power line crossing Francis Road.

Smith said that sparks flew as the truck caught the line.

He said the driver stopped immediately and the emergency services were called.

Smith said the band members were told to stay on the float for their own safety, until BC Hydro arrived to shut off the power.

It's understood that several members of the band sustained injuries and some were taken to hospital.

Smith said that firefighters speculated that the power line had maybe sagged under the heat of the day.

A ScanBC post on Twitter indicated that there was a motor vehicle incident in the area at around the same time.

Multiple emergency services could be spotted at the scene, including several ambulances, a fire truck and a police vehicle.

The Richmond News has reached out to all the emergency services and the band for more details.