GALVESTON, Texas (CN) - A 3-year-old boy was crushed to death when a 40-foot log rolled down a sand dune on a Galveston beach, his family claims in court.
The Huff and Davis families sued Galveston County, in Galveston County Court.
Lashaun Huff was killed at about 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 as he walked near sand dunes on Galveston's Crystal Beach with his grandfather, Robert Marsh, and 15-year-old sister, Heather Davis.
The little boy was killed and his sister and grandfather were injured trying to save him.
Marsh and Davis tried to keep the 2-foot wide log from rolling onto Lashaun, Houston's ABC News affiliate reported.
"The rolling log caused the death of LaShaun Huff, who emergency responders pronounced dead at the scene," the complaint states. "Meanwhile, Marsh and Davis suffered severe personal injuries.
"Marsh's arm was pinned under the log, and Galveston County sheriffs were forced to pull the log off of him using county vehicles. Mr. Marsh suffered nerve damage to his right arm and was hospitalized at UTMB [University of Texas Medical Branch] for two days.
"A bystander dug Davis' face out of the sand so that she could breathe until emergency responders arrived on the scene.
"Davis suffered at least two broken ribs, as well as a crushing injury to one of her arms, resulting in nerve damage and five days of hospitalization at UTMB."
Huff's family seeks damages for wrongful death and gross negligence.
They say Galveston County is responsible for maintaining the beach under the Galveston County Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan.
They are represented by Mark Midani with Midani, Hinkle & Cole in Houston.
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