Traffic accident causes costly damage at Rose Float Barn just weeks before parade

An early morning traffic accident has the Downey Rose Float Association facing thousands of dollars worth of damage just weeks before the Rose Parade. Photo Courtesy of Downey Rose Float Association

DOWNEY -An early morning traffic accident on Friday has left The Downey Rose Float Association saddled with thousands of dollars in property damage just weeks before the Tournament of Roses.

The incident took place sometime around 1 a.m., near the Downey Rose Float barn entrance off of Gardendale Street.

According to Jeremy Clifton, President of the Downey Rose Float Association, a single vehicle crashed through the security fence, damaging some props and equipment. There was no damage to the barn or float.

A police report was made, but was not immediately available.

Kelley Roberts, Construction Chairman of the Float, approximated that the accident would cost around $8-12,000 and 40 hours in manpower to repair.

There are only three weeks before the Rose Parade in Pasadena, meaning that the Downey Rose Float Association is already in a time crunch to make sure that its annual entry is ready for the trip down Colorado Boulevard.

Clifton said, “We’ll pull it off.”

“We’ll probably have to do a couple of long nights to repair the props and everything else that we need to do, but one way or another we’ll complete it,” said Clifton.

A Go Fund Me has been started to help raise funds for repairs.

Downey Rose Float is scheduled to start “Decoration Week” on Dec. 26.