Family Of 2-Year-Old Killed At Cummins Falls Sues Tennessee State Parks
The family of a 2-year-old who died at Cummins Falls State Park this summer filed a lawsuit this week, saying the state's negligence led to Steven Pierce's death.
Central to the lawsuit against the state is park officials' decision to allow visitors to Cummins Falls on June 9. It also argues the park should have had more safety measures in place, and it claims rangers gave Steven Pierce's father directions that led to his getting swept away in floodwaters.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which oversees the state parks system, says it does not wish to comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit cites a "series of human errors," starting with park officials' deciding to open the waterfall to the public, despite knowing rain was in the forecast. Once visitors were there, the lawsuit says, the park provided life jackets at the base of the waterfall, but visitors had to give them back before they hiked through the gorge to the trailhead.
Read more: https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/family-2-year-old-killed-cummins-falls-sues-tennessee-state-parks
