Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter dies in accident
The five-year-old daughter of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman has died after an SUV struck her on the family’s property around 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol tells News 2.
Maria Chapman — one of three daughters that Chapman and his wife adopted from China — was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after she was taken there by LifeFlight.
A THP spokeswoman says one of Chapman’s two teen-aged sons was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser around the family’s Franklin home, and the driver didn’t see the little girl.
Police said this appears to be an accident.
Authorities have sent an accident reconstruction team to the site, and the district attorney has been notified, but no charges are pending at this point. And no charges are expected.
UPDATE
Steven Curtis Chapman’s manager, Jim Houser, issued a statement on the family’s Web site today.
“Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman’s completion of high school,” he wrote.
“Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again.”
The family is asking donations be made to the Chapman’s adoption initiative, Shoahanna’s Hope.
SERVICES
Christ Presbyterian Church, 2323 Old Hickory Blvd., will host visitation 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and a public memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 am
My thoughts and prayers are with the Chapman family…