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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.


The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

McPherson said no charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.

The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.

The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.

Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards.

Oh, man...He is one of the most genuine people in the music business. The girl that was killed, Maria, was adopted from China just a few years ago.

piecesofeight wrote:NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.


The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

McPherson said no charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.

The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.

The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.

Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards.

''


When you think of just how bad things are for you all you have to do is read this.
All I can say is God must be on vacation as one bad after the other keeps happening .

Poor kid, that's just tragic. I wanna be mad at somebody but can't. Damn SUV's cut down visibility of little kids.

This is his daughter here.

froy wrote:When you think of just how bad things are for you all you have to do is read this.
All I can say is God must be on vacation as one bad after the other keeps happening .

I'm willing to bet that the Chapmans aren't looking at it that way.

StoneCold wrote:Poor kid, that's just tragic. I wanna be mad at somebody but can't. Damn SUV's cut down visibility of little kids.

It's not the fault of the SUV. Same thing could've happened in a truck, car, etc.

conversationpc wrote:

froy wrote:When you think of just how bad things are for you all you have to do is read this.
All I can say is God must be on vacation as one bad after the other keeps happening .

I'm willing to bet that the Chapmans aren't looking at it that way.

Ditto..but I will agree..and it's always been my motto..no matter how bad we think things are for us..there is always someoen going through/experiencing something worse..my health is in a bad way right now..yet I know there are people so much worse off than me..I am thankful for everything..everyday..

True re: SUV's vs cars. Happens way too often.

How Sad

conversationpc wrote:

froy wrote:When you think of just how bad things are for you all you have to do is read this.
All I can say is God must be on vacation as one bad after the other keeps happening .

I'm willing to bet that the Chapmans aren't looking at it that way.

Incredibly unfortunate, and the exact type of thing that set me off on my rant a few months ago... My heart really goes out to them.

conversationpc wrote:

StoneCold wrote:Poor kid, that's just tragic. I wanna be mad at somebody but can't. Damn SUV's cut down visibility of little kids.

It's not the fault of the SUV. Same thing could've happened in a truck, car, etc.

I CANNOT IMAGINE losing a child, it has to be the worst thing that can happen to a parent and the POOR brother.....
Prayers to ALL of them!!

Terrible news. So sad for Steven and his family. He's written so many songs that have given me strength. None more so than my favorite. One he wrote for a friend who lost a child.
God be with you and yours Steven.


With Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbe5f45Snuo

Oh NO

I'm sick to my stomach just thinking of the devastation to the entire family.

Oh man.....

Jesus we join together and lift up this family to You for comfort and peace. Thanks for allowing them the time with her that they had. Strengthen the faith of this older brother to understand that You are still in control.

Thanks for posting of this piecesofeight, I had not heard about it.
I hope and pray this doesn't destroy that young man.
May God give the goodness of that little girls soul back in strength and love to the family.

Sad. I especially feel for the surviving teen.

Heartbreaking-----God give these people strength ----to accept was has happened to them.

(Crazy)Dulce Lady wrote:Jesus we join together and lift up this family to You for comfort and peace. Thanks for allowing them the time with her that they had. Strengthen the faith of this older brother to understand that You are still in control.

That was just beautiful.My heart goes out to the family RIP little one My health is not the best right now but when you look around you are so better than the next person.

Keep the family in your prayers

Thats a shame. Ill never understand why bad things had to really good people. It was an accident but it just really sucks

How terrible! My thoughts and prayers go out to them!

A 16-year old not far from me got his license last weekend, suck out in his parents' SUV a couple days ago, rolled it into a ditch and died. I'm starting to think 16 is too young to drive.

How heartbreaking, my prayers go out to the family.......especially the brother who has to live with that tragic accident.

Deb wrote:How heartbreaking, my prayers go out to the family.......especially the brother who has to live with that tragic accident.

Yeah..wow..at our ages it would be tough..yet one is going through enough at his age..thank goodness he has/does/will grow up in such great surroundings that are not only going to help him..but not make him feel any worse than he does..and be there for him..even though some parents might not know how to act to him at first.
Even though Steve and his wife are grieving..and could be angry and him..they will not be..and will be there for him. I believe the way he has grown up..what his surroundings are..and who his parents are..that he will eventually be ok.

It really is hard to wrap one's head around all the emotions that they all must be going through and it does just one more time remind us to be thankful what we have..and not be angry about what we don't..and to not get wrapped up in stupid things.

NealIsGod wrote:A 16-year old not far from me got his license last weekend, suck out in his parents' SUV a couple days ago, rolled it into a ditch and died. I'm starting to think 16 is too young to drive.

Here in Louisiana the driving age was 15 until 1998-99...can you believe THAT!!!

Your 15th birthday is the age you can get a driver's permit in Florida. Then 16 for the license. I think it's too young. Especially considering I will have a 15 year old in December

In Idaho a 14 1/2 year old can take driver's education and get a licence on their 15th birthday.

However, this tragedy could just have easily been an adult driving. Last summer a friend of mine was backing her Suburban up in the driveway to make room to take the lawn mower out of the garage and backed over her two year old daughter. When the ambulance arrived the girl was already dead but they had to transport the mother to he hospital to be sedated because she was so hysterical.

Terrible tragedy-I know that one day all those that have lost children will understand that there was a reason. I have always believed that children that die were too perfect to live in this imperfect world.

RedWingFan wrote:Terrible news. So sad for Steven and his family. He's written so many songs that have given me strength. None more so than my favorite. One he wrote for a friend who lost a child.
God be with you and yours Steven.


With Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbe5f45Snuo

I'm sure he never thought this song would be so personal for him now...

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

So we can cry with hope
And say goodbye with hope

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

I'm taking my 16 1/2 year old to get her learner's permit today and then she starts actual behind the wheel training. I don't know how to coney to her what a huge responsibility driving is and how a tragic mistake like this will stay with you for the rest of your life.

This poor boy will never get over this.

What a horrible tragedy. I am so sorry for the family. I hope the brother will realize that it could have just as easily been mom or dad backing out when the accident happened.