Link (http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080521/NEWS/80521067)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee authorities say the 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman has been struck and killed by a sport-utility vehicle driven by her teenage brother.

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokeswoman Laura McPherson says the girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway at the family residence this afternoon south of Nashville. McPherson says the Toyota Land Cruiser was driven by the girl’s brother.

McPherson says several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident. Chapman is originally from Paducah, Ky.

McPherson says the brother apparently did not see the little girl. McPherson did not have the name or exact age of the brother.

Vanderbilt Medical Center spokeswoman Laurie Holloway says the girl died later at the hospital.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/zoneboy/SCC.gif

horrible. if i did that, i couldn't live with myself. :( may she :rip:

How horrible!! My thoughts and prayers are with the Chapman family.

This is very sad. I'm not sure how old the teen son was, but, for the love of God, WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU'RE GOING, PEOPLE!!!! :mad: Gotta look each way and check everywhere. I'm finishing driving lessons (I know, after all these years since high school in the early 80's), and the driving school really stresses this. I want to be the safest driver I can possibly be, because where I live, people drive like they're nuts.


I'm sure this son is going to have this on his record for the rest of his life. :(

Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman's 5-year-old daughter, seen sitting on his lap in this family photo, was tragically killed when her brother was said to have accidentally run over her with a car.

I just can't even imagine. My prayers go out to the family during this horrible, tragic time.

There's also a video tribute here as well.

Link (http://www.cmspin.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=4963&z=26)

The following statement has come from Chapman’s manager, Jim Houser:

“Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter to Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed in a tragic accident in the family driveway on Wednesday evening. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him ... not to Franklin as we all so desperately wanted.

Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. 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. 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.

I couldn't listen to "Cinderella" today without choking up. And I have to play it at a wedding next weekend--it's the father-daughter dance. :(

I couldn't listen to "Cinderella" today without choking up. And I have to play it at a wedding next weekend--it's the father-daughter dance. :(

you'll be in my prayers. :)

Just a terrible accicent. She was such a Beautiful girl too.

Link (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20202406,00.html)

With laughter and tears, Grammy-winning Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman and his family said goodbye Saturday to their 'cuddle bug,' daughter Maria Sue. The 5-year-old died three days earlier after being accidentally struck at their Franklin, Tenn., home by a reversing SUV driven by her brother.

In a two-hour memorial service at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville that drew more than 700 mourners, Maria was remembered for her love of drawing flowers, playing in the water, snuggling with her family – and doing dishes "buck naked." She "loved, loved, loved to be naked," laughed her mother, Mary Beth. Maria, the family's youngest, was one of three daughters adopted from China by the couple, who formed the charity Shaohannah's Hope (shaohannahshope.org) to help other families wanting to adopt.

The couple, along with their three older biological children and their two other adopted daughters, Shaohannah, 8, and Stevey Joy, 5, were all barefoot during the service as a mark of reverence to ground made holy, they said, by the loss of Maria. Standing in front of the tiny white coffin covered with pink flowers, they took turns holding the young girls in their arms and embracing the son whose car hit Maria. Tears streamed down the 17-year-old's face and he wore Maria's pink security blanket around his neck throughout the service. In a letter Shaohannah had written to God and her lost sister that her father read aloud, she asked for prayers for her brother. "He has been sobbing," she wrote.

The family raised their arms as they sang songs of worship and sought comfort in their faith. "We had talked [with Maria] about what it meant to be with Jesus," Chapman said. "I had no idea how soon it was going to be, but we know she is in His amazing house, playing in the water."

^^^ i'm crying just reading that. :( thanks for the article, ZoneBoy.

So very hard to read that article :( This whole thing is awful and my heart just aches for the brother. http://i29.tinypic.com/jsyu0m.gif

How horrible!! I can't even imagine what the Chapman family, and especially their son is going through. Thankfully, their strong faith is seeing them through this tragedy.