Parents Of Toddler Who Fell From Cruise Window To Her Death Sue Royal Caribbean
Dec. 11 2019, Published 11:12 a.m. ET
The distraught parents of Chloe Wiegand, the Indiana toddler who fell out of an open cruise ship window to her death, are suing Royal Caribbean for putting their child in danger.
The negligence lawsuit, due to be filed Wednesday, December 11, accuses the cruise company of breaching industry safety standards by having large glass windows on their ships, particularly ones that can be easily opened. It also argues that there is not a single warning sign or safety notice to alert passengers of the “hidden dangers” on the Freedom of the Seas cruises.
RadarOnline.com readers know Chloe’s grandfather Salvatore “Sam” Anello was holding Chloe up to the glass to look at the view when tragedy struck. Sam, who doctors have confirmed is colorblind, did not realize the window was open when he held the little girl up towards it, and before he could save her, Chloe fell through. She dropped 150 feet, only to land on a concrete dock while the cruise was anchored in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Chilling new crime scene photos obtained by Daily Mail show the exact spot where Chloe landed and was pronounced dead. Her body is covered with a blue police tent while the floor from which she fell is closed off with police tape.
The late toddler’s family is including the harrowing images in their suit.
Chloe’s granddad Sam, meanwhile, has been charged with criminal neglect by Puerto Rican police for his part in her July 7 death. He has fully cooperated with authorities, and even broke down in tears during a November interview with CBS, insisting he did not know the window was open.
“I remember trying to find her on the floor and then I saw her fall, I saw her fall, I saw her fall the whole way down. I saw her fall and I was just in disbelief. And I was like ‘Oh my God,’” he said during the talk, grabbing his face with emotion.
Sam is due back in court on December 17 in Puerto Rico. He faces three years in prison if convicted. Chloe’s parents, Kimberly and Alan Weigand, meanwhile, have begged prosecutors not to convict Sam as they go forward with their lawsuit against Royal Caribbean.
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The cruise company has refused to comment on the case, only saying in a statement that Chloe’s death was a “tragic accident.”
