9-year-old girl dies after bounce house blown into power lines
RENO, Nev. — Hundreds of people lined the hallways of Renown Regional Medical Center to honor the 9-year-old girl who died after being injured in a bounce house incident earlier this week.
Lizzy Hammond died after a bounce house blew into power lines in South Reno near Bartley Ranch on Sunday. Two other children were also injured in the incident.
"It is with heavy hearts that the Hammond family must officially announce the death of our beloved Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Hammond," the family said in a statement Friday.
"Our precious Lizzy was a beautiful, intelligent, silly, vibrant little girl who was full of life. She was a daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin, teammate and beloved friend."
The family said they were planning to donate the girl's organs "to help upwards of 80-100 children nationwide," adding: "We believe that her beautiful spirit will carry on within those individuals that she helps."
Washoe County Sheriff’s spokesman Bob Harmon told The Associated Press on Friday the accident remains under investigation but that he had no new information to report. Authorities told KOLO-TV the bounce house seemed to be secured to the ground but was caught by an especially strong gust of wind.
Sheriff Darin Balaam said Friday the girl’s death has affected everyone involved.
“We are truly heartbroken for the family,” he said in a statement. “I speak on behalf of every deputy, firefighter, trooper, dispatcher, and medic who responded to this incident as well as all area first responders when I say to the family 'our prayers are with you, our thoughts are with you and we are here to help in any way that we can.'"
Full statement from Hammond family
"It is with heavy hearts that the Hammond Family must officially announce the death of our beloved Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Hammond. Lizzy was 9 years old at the time of the horrific incident that took place on Sunday, July 14th involving a bounce house.
Our precious Lizzy was a beautiful, intelligent, silly, vibrant little girl who was full of life. She was a daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin, teammate, and beloved friend. She was an active volunteer in the local community where she enjoyed feeding the homeless, shopping with the Sheriff, building care packages for local soldiers deployed overseas, and providing school supplies to less-fortunate children in the area. Lizzy was a confirmed Catholic and an active member of her church, St. Alberts.
Lizzy loves all first responders. She was extremely patriotic and wholeheartedly supported the U.S. military, as well as her local police, sheriff, and fire departments. She was a warm, kind, and selfless girl who loved everyone and everything. Given Lizzy's generous spirit, she will be donating her organs which will allow her to help upwards of 80-100 children nationwide. We believe from the bottom of our hearts that giving the gift of life to others would have been her wishes.
Lizzy's Honor Walk will be held on July 19 at 10 a.m. after which she will transcend from her physical form into the guardian angel that she is. We believe that her beautiful spirt will carry on within those individuals that she helps.
We want to sincerely thank members of the Nevada National Guard, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Reno Fire Department, REMSA, Washoe County SHeriff's OFfice and the wonderful nurses and doctors that helped and supported Lizzy through her final days with us.
Respectfully,
The Hammond Family"
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Girl dies after bounce house blown into power lines in Nevada
