Parents Hope Others Learn From Child's Death |
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Part for ATV That Child Was Killed on Recalled Recently by Yamaha |
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Justin McClelland Dayton Daily News |
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April 8, 2009—For John and Tammy Sand, nothing will replace their young daughter, but the couple is determined the accident that took her life won’t happen to anyone else. Ellie, 7, was attending a birthday party in October 2007 when she took a ride on a Yamaha Rhino 660 ATV four wheeler. According to the Lebanon couple’s attorney, Mike Roberts, the vehicle tipped over as the driver was attempting a right turn while traveling at 15 mph on a flat surface. Roberts said Ellie’s head was smashed between the ground and a roll bar on the vehicle, causing irreparable brain damage. Ellie died the next day. The Sands would not discuss the specifics of Ellie’s accident because of on-going litigation against Yamaha. A court date is scheduled in Warren County for early September. Ellie’s parents described her as a passionate tennis player who also loved to dance. Since her death, the Lebanon Dance Kids program created the Ellie Sands award for a dancer who shows a spirit of hard work, determination, and dedication. Since Ellie’s death, her parents have been part of a nationwide group calling for a recall of the Yamaha Rhino. John Sand found other people on-line who had lost loved ones or been injured in similar accidents involving the Rhino. The Sands were among many who bombarded the Consumer Product Safety Commission with information about their cases, demanding a recall. Last week, the CPSC concurred, ordering a voluntary recall to replace the wheel’s of the Rhino with a wider version that would deter the vehicle from rolling over. According to CPSC, the organization has investigated more than 50 incidents involving three separate Rhino models, including 46 driver and passenger deaths involving two Rhino models like the one Ellie died on. A spokesman for Yamaha told the Associated Press that “The safety of our customers drives everything we do at Yamaha and today’s announcement by the CPSC about Yamaha’s free repair offer for Rhino models 660 and 450 reflect this commitment.” Sands said on the day of the recall he received a voice mail from the CPSC informing them of the action and thanking them for their effort. “It made us feel good,” Sands said. “I don’t want to take credit for this, but it’s a fight we took up for Ellie.” |
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