It appears as if the pedestrian was killed in a tragic accident this morning that involved the car carrying the parade's grand marshal. The AP reports:

Anchorage police Lt. Dave Parker said the 50-year-old man who was killed was participating in the Celebrating Diversity Parade. He said the car accelerated and ran over the man just minutes after the parade scheduled for 11 a.m. started. Officers "immediately started CPR, but were not able to revive him," Parker said. "He was declared deceased at the scene." Police questioned the driver and authorities were trying to determine whether the collision was caused by mechanical failure or driver error. There was no indication that alcohol was involved. Grand marshal Doug Frank told the Anchorage Daily News that the convertible's driver had trouble with the car's accelerator. "It ran over a person, totally over," Frank said, sobbing. "This went from one of the best days of my life to the worst."

The parade was immediately canceled following the accident.

The Alska Dispatch has printed an eyewitness account on what may have caused the crash: "According to people participating in the event, the driver of parade grand marshal Doug Frank's convertible did not know how to operate the car's stick-shift. A witness called it an "irresponsible" decision that left a woman dead and ruined a day of celebration for Alaska's queer communities."

While the AP has said the victim is male, other sources report that the person's gender at this time remains unconfirmed.

(Above photo courtesy of the Anchorage Daily News)