UPDATE: 2 Yr. Old Who Fell to Death from Chimney Rock

Mother says child did not run before fall at Chimney Rock


Posted: May. 30 4:51 p.m.
Updated: 46 minutes ago

Asheville, N.C. - The mother of a 2-year-old who fell to his death at
Chimney Rock State Park has disputed reports from park officials who said
the boy ran from her and fell after slipping under a wooden rail.

Bibiana Saenz Bautista, 28, told the Spanish newspaper La Voz that she had
her son, Giovani "Nani" Chávez Saenz, by the hand when he suddenly tried to
pull away, lost his footing and fell between two wooden rails that guard the
Skyline Trail.

"There were about 15 of us. We were walking nearly single file in an area
maybe a meter (39 inches) wide," Bautista said Thursday. "He had a hold of
my hand when he wanted to join his cousins who were walking in front and
pulled at my hand. His foot slipped and he fell between the rails. He
disappeared below and that was the last time I saw my son until I saw his
body at the hospital."

Division of Parks and Recreation spokesman Charlie Peek initially said that
the mother was holding her child's hand, walking between him and the
railing, just before he fell on May 24. Peek said in a telephone interview
Thursday night that his information was the result of a statement Saenz
apparently made to Lake Lure police officer Glenn Gittens, who served as an
interpreter.

Peek corrected the part of the report that said the mother was walking on
the outside of the trail. He said it was the child who was walking next to
the railing, adding that the discrepancy stemmed from secondhand, word of
mouth information contradicted by written investigative notes, apparently
also the result of Gittens' interpretation.

Peek said investigators have wanted to talk again to Saenz and her husband,
Arturo Chávez García, 35, but the couple had not returned several message
left at the home of Saenz's sister.

Saenz said she has received no such messages and only Tuesday had a
telephone line installed in her home.

Peek said park signs warn visitors of the risks of falling and even death at
the beginning of the Skyline and Cliff trails. He said the park discourages
parents from taking smaller children on the trails because of the cliffs.

"We didn't see any signs in Spanish," Saenz said. "If they don't think
children should be on those trails, then why does it say at the entrance,
"Adults $14 and children under six, free?"



http://wral.com/news/state/story/2966932/

Local *comment* from message board.

"We didn't see any signs in Spanish," ...That would be because you are in
AMERICA!!! Funny she obviously could read the sign that said, "children
under 6 FREE". Selective reading I guess. It doesn't take a rocket scientist
to realize how dangerous those trails and lookout points are. I just don't
understand why the 2 yr old was next to the rail where he could slip and
fall to his death. Tragic for this little boy to lose his precious life.
Accidents happen, and I feel sorry for his Mom, but this could have been
prevented. I know, someone's going to say I should be ashamed for judging
this Mom, but when a child dies and it COULD have been prevented it makes me
mad. I guess the NAAHP (Nat'l Assoc for the Advancement of Hispanic People)
will slither on down to start a law suit....Oh, wait, wrong group!


me:

The commenter does have a point, if she couldn't read the signs how did she
know about the 'children under six FREE'.

Regardless, why was a two year old walking on the *outside* of the trail,
the steep side? And if she had hold of his hand, how the hell did he fall?
When I hold my children, now grandchildrens hands, I have a tight enough
grip on them to protect them. That's the reason I AM holding their hands,
to keep them from breaking away from me and running into the road, or
falling down a staircase, etc. What ever the need for the handholding to
begin with.

I too am *smelling* a lawsuit here.

td



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Relevant Pages

  • Re: UPDATE: 2 Yr. Old Who Fell to Death from Chimney Rock
    ... Chimney Rock State Park has disputed reports from park officials who ... Bibiana Saenz Bautista, 28, told the Spanish newspaper La Voz that she ... my hand when he wanted to join his cousins who were walking in front ... the beginning of the Skyline and Cliff trails. ...
    (alt.true-crime)
  • Re: UPDATE: 2 Yr. Old Who Fell to Death from Chimney Rock
    ... Chimney Rock State Park has disputed reports from park officials who said ... Bibiana Saenz Bautista, 28, told the Spanish newspaper La Voz that she had ... We were walking nearly single file in an area ... parents from taking smaller children on the trails because of the cliffs. ...
    (alt.true-crime)
  • Re: UPDATE: 2 Yr. Old Who Fell to Death from Chimney Rock
    ... Chimney Rock State Park has disputed reports from park officials who said ... Bibiana Saenz Bautista, 28, told the Spanish newspaper La Voz that she had ... We were walking nearly single file in an area ... parents from taking smaller children on the trails because of the cliffs. ...
    (alt.true-crime)
  • Re: UPDATE: 2 Yr. Old Who Fell to Death from Chimney Rock
    ... Chimney Rock State Park has disputed reports from park officials who said ... Bibiana Saenz Bautista, 28, told the Spanish newspaper La Voz that she had ... We were walking nearly single file in an area ... parents from taking smaller children on the trails because of the cliffs. ...
    (alt.true-crime)
  • Re: UPDATE: 2 Yr. Old Who Fell to Death from Chimney Rock
    ... Chimney Rock State Park has disputed reports from park officials who said ... Bibiana Saenz Bautista, 28, told the Spanish newspaper La Voz that she had ... We were walking nearly single file in an area ... parents from taking smaller children on the trails because of the cliffs. ...
    (alt.true-crime)