RI family sues campground after child’s drowning
Published: September 22, 2009
CONCORD, N.H.—The family of a 7-year-old Rhode Island girl killed in a flash flood at a New Hampshire campground has sued its owners.
Kaitlyn Ferra was vacationing with her parents, Brandon and Donna Ferra, and her brother at Ames Brook Campground in Ashland in August 2008 when heavy rains caused two brooks to merge and quickly flood their area.
Brandon Ferra tried to drive his family to safety, but a torrent of water hit their SUV. Everyone was ejected except Kaitlyn, who drowned.
The family alleges owners Vernon and Barbara Marion knew the campsite had a propensity to flood but failed to tell them about weather warnings and did nothing to help them when others began evacuating.
Vernon Marion told the Concord Monitor he hadn’t seen the lawsuit. He said his heart goes out to the Ferras.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Hey klazarski,
No problem at all. I understand, we all have our views and beleive in them strongly. I think its good to converse on these things because we all learn daily new view points and facts along the way.
Have a great day,
Mike
to mike,
Conversely, if it was all over the news, don’t the patrons have a responsibility in the decision(s) that were made as well?
Again, I am only going off the WJAR article, this is my initial, probably superficial reaction to the story.
Sasha, Well put!
LOL on the typo
correction…“partying” with it.
I agree that (efp1971)‘s comment is out of line. You don’t know how much this family has lost in this tragedy. Funeral’s alone cost enough to make you want to crawl in the casket yourself. Think of the damage to their belongings, even though that’s most likely the last thing on their minds. You don’t know anything about these people. Who knows, they may take that money and raise awareness. Possibly build something to benefit others in honor of their lost daughter. I’m sure they wont be taking the money and parting with it.
Smitty, I disagree. Yes the family was trying to cross the roadway brook to get out of the way of the rushing water. The father most likely thought he could get out of there faster with his family together with him in the vehicle. Having a gush of water chase you down, you are probably better off in a SUV putting the petal to the metal. But in this case it was to late to out run the massive rush of water. When panic sets in, you will try any escape to save your family. Like putting the kids and wife in the SUV and trying to fly out of there. The campsite was probably going to be flooded so, staying there was not an option. Yes “act of God” however, the campground owners knew of the warnings themselves and even took a walk to evaluate the situation after hearing a loud bang. At that moment the owner should of said Everybody out!! This is my campground and I have a responsibility to make sure all who camp here are safe. So there was second bang and here came the tsunami. The family did not make a bad decision to stay near the water, they consulted with the owners and the owners told them don’t worry all is good.
efp1971, You are so out of bounds with your statements…you have no idea the pain and torments these parents are going through. The campground owners are being sued because of their complete negligent and non-commitment to help the family. Maybe this will wake them up if they chose to stay in business and not have anyone else hurt on their property. How could they foresee the flooding?????? IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS UP THERE! Extremely High River and weather warnings! How much more of clue did they need?
Yeah, because getting money from an insurance company is going to bring back your child. PARENTS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. Stupid law suits like this are why insurance is so high. How was teh campground to forsee this degree of flooding? Where is the negligence?
That article put a little more information on the table, but it still points out that these people were trying to cross a running brook to get out of there. If they would have stayed in their campsite—or maybe if they would have gotten out earlier things may have been different.
No matter which way you look at it—it was still an act of God. The way the flooding was all around the Mass-NH border then, it was still a bad decision to stay near that brook. Could be the campground owner was partially at fault—but so was the family.
Thanks chrissic, and thank you for posting the full article too.
My prayers and thoughts are with this family. The pain must be so incredible, it hurts to think about it.
For those that need a little more info before saying it was “mother nature”! Read on! Of course turn to 10 only copies 1/4 of the story!
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090922/FRONTPAGE/909220304
Advertisement