Steven Curtis Loses Daughter To Tragic Accident
Contemporary Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman tragically lost his five-year-old adopted daughter, Maria Sue Chapman, in an accident on Wednesday, May 21. She was struck by an SUV driven by one of Chapman's teenage sons as he backed down the driveway of the family's Franklin, Tennessee home. The entire family was home at the time celebrating their eldest daughter's engagement, and several family members witnessed the accident. Maria Sue was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville where she died. "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," Chapman's manager Jim Houser wrote on a bog dedicated to Maria that was set up for condolences.
A spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol termed it "a terrible accident" and said no charges are expected to be filed. Maria was the youngest in the family and one of three daughters adopted from China by Steven and his wife, Mary Beth.
5/23/08
