Attorney releases statement for family of toddler who tragically died on cruise ship
A local family is grieving after a toddler fell to her death from a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico. Now, the family attorney is speaking out.
A Port Authority spokesman says the child's grandfather was playing with 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand inside the ship. He lost his balance and the girl fell out the window.
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The grandfather works for St. Joseph County and the child's father is Officer Alan Wiegand with the South Bend Police Department.
Authorities say they're investigating this as an accident. The family is not allowed to leave Puerto Rico until the investigation is complete.
The family's attorney, Michael Winkleman, released a statement about the incident:
"Chloe's grandfather was playing with her in the kid’s water zone. Chloe wanted to bang on the glass like she always did at her older brothers hockey games. Her grandfather thought there was glass just like everywhere else, but there was not, and she was gone in an instant.
The family needs answers as to why there would be an open window in a wall full of fixed windows in a kids' play area? Why would you have the danger without any warning, sign, or notice?
I think there is going to be blame, and significant blame, on the cruise line, and I will do everything I can to hold them accountable for what appears to be negligence."
At a press conference, Attorney Michael Winkleman spoke for the local family whose toddler fell on a Royal Caribbean ship this weekend and died:
The FOP is launching an effort to raise money for the family's funeral, travel and medical expenses.
