Daughter of Gospel Star Steven Curtis Chapman Hit, Killed by Car
Thursday, May 22, 2008
This undated family handout shows from left to right: Will Franklin, Maria, Steven Curtis, Shaoey, MaryBeth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily Chapman.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 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 from the Gospel Music Association.
The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.
“After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that,” Chapman says on the Web site. “We’ve really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don’t think so. I believe God is saying, ‘I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.”‘
Chapman also has released a book about bheing a father entitled “Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess.”
I can’t even start to imagine the pain that the Chapman family is experiencing right now. We need to pray for the family and especially for the young man who was driving the vehicle. Though no fault of his, he will struggle with this, probably for the rest of his life.
It was just a couple of days ago that I blogged about this song after hearing it on the way home from seeing the newest member of my family for the first time.
My heart breaks for this family.
You can scroll down a couple of blogs to hear the song mentioned here.
Ronnie
Listen when you have the chance – –
God bless,
Chris
http://chrisschellenberg.com/