Savannah Dominick, 10, is the second child to die following a March 10 house fire in Harrisburg, PA believed to have started by a recharging hoverboard. Savannah and her sister Ashanti Hughes, 3, both suffered third-degree burns covering 95 percent of their bodies and were transported to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest after the fire. Ashanti died March 11, Savannah died March 16. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family. Another girl who was injured in the fire remains hospitalized.
Family members told Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline that they heard a sizzling sound before the hoverboard, which was plugged in and recharging, exploded and burst into flames.
Recalled Hoverboards
Fires stemming from overheating lithium-ion batteries in hoverboards, also called self-balancing scooters, had become so common last year that 10 manufacturers issued recalls. At least 99 instances of hoverboards overheating, sparking, smoking, catching fire and exploding had been reported by July 2016, when 10 manufacturers recalled more than a half million hoverboards. Here is a summary of hoverboard recall information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
It is not yet known if the hoverboard in question was among those that were recalled. But, in an open letter to the charwoman of the CPSC, U.S. Senators Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D- PA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asked that the agency determine whether the hoverboard was among those that were recalled and that the recall be expanded if it was not.
Several hoverboard fire lawsuits have been filed for injuries sustained in these incidents, but if officials rule that the hoverboard was the source of the Harrisburg fire it will be the first time fatalities are associated with defective products.
The attorneys at Pritzker Hageman represent clients who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. Use this free consultation form to ask our lead product liability lawyers, Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman, if you have a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a company that sold a defective product. Or, call 1 (888) 377-8900 and ask to speak with Fred or Eric. The call and the consultation are free and there is no obligation.
