Family dedicates Web site to daughter killed in Rhino rollover

October 7th, 2008 by Jennifer Walker-Journey

Ellie Sand’s warm smiles appear to lift off the photo montage on the Web site made in her memory. She was a determined girl, who did well at most anything she tried – dancing, tennis, horseback riding, even riding her dirt bike. But her strong will was not enough to keep her alive after the Yamaha Rhino she was riding in tipped over and crushed her small body.

An air ambulance rushed her to the hospital and for 24 hours machines held her at the brink of life. But the weight of the 1,100-pound was just too much for her. Ellie died last October.

Since that tragic day, the Sand family has tried to make sense of what happened to their beautiful daughter. Their Web site is a way to warn other families of the dangers of Rhinos before more people are killed.

The Web site touches on safety concerns, court cases, customer complaints, and independent testing of Rhinos. It also includes a rollover movie and marketing video. Perhaps the most startling page is the Rhino Victims page, which shows the glowing faces of the children and adults killed while riding this dangerous vehicle. J.T. Crow was 9; Lan McCloud was 8; Andrew Bahl was only 3.

In May, we reported that these Rhinos killed more than 500 people in 2006. Nearly 1 in 5 was a child. Can someone please explain why these horrid vehicles are still being sold?

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at 9:11 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • J Boudreaux
    Who are you trying to kid? The driver of the rhino that your daughter was riding with was convicted for man slaughter and you blame Yamaha? Be accountable for allowing your daughter to ride with a dangerous driver which you yourself had the courts prosecute!
  • J Boudreaux
    At what point do the parents that made the "bad" decision not to follow the safety warnings that ended in a child getting killed, come into the scheme of things? I hear there have been a few prosecuted for child endangerment, one has been convicted for man slaughter. If you're as concerned as you make it sound you should be adressing this in your cause also. Want to stop the deaths, Prosecute the adults that made the decision to endanger their children. I think it's about time the DA's step up and hold these parents responsible. Like you I think there is a problem, we just differ on the cause.

    My family and I enjoy our Rhino's. We adhere to the safety warnings and consider ourselves to be responsible riders and parents.
  • TB
    SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF ELLE SANDS IN THE ACCIDENT. MAY GOD BE WITH THE FAMILY. I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT HOW THE RHINO TIPPED OVER. WHO WAS DRIVING OR WAS ELLE DRIVING? I DIDN'T READ THIS , I WAS JUST CURIOUS. I HATE TO HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE,ESPECIALLY INNOCENT CHILDREN. SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
  • TB
    I OWN A RHINO AND LET ME SAY THAT I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED . I HAVE BEEN RIDING ATVS ALL MY LIFE,I AM 40. AS FAR AS THE RHINO ,I HAVE OWNED IT 2 YEARS NOW AND LET ME SAY ,THERE IS NO WAY I CAN TURN IT OVER UNLESS I DO SOMETHING REALLY STUPID ON IT! I AM NOT CALLING THESE FOLKS STUPID , I AM JUST SAYING, APPARENTLY THEY HAD NO PROPER TRAINING ON HOW TO RIDE . IT SEEMS NO ONE WEARS PROTECTIVE GEAR! I ALWAYS DO!!IT IS NOT THE RHINOS FAULT! IT IS THE SAME WITH A GUN-GUNS DON'T GO AROUND ON THEIR OWN KILLING PEOPLE---IT IS ALWAYS IN SOME NUTCASES HAND. IS IT THE GUNS FAULT??!! NOW I DO BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN TO THE MOST CAREFUL AT TIMES BUT MOST OF THESE CASES ARE WHERE SOMEONE DID SOMETHING LIKE DOING DONUTS OWN A RHINO AND SOMEONE DIES!! COMMON SENSE SHOULD TAKE OVER IN THESE TIMES , ESPECIALLY IF A CHID IS INVOLVED. AND WHY DO I READ THAT THEY ARE NOT WEARING THE SEAT BELT!!?? SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS! I ALSO RACED DIRT BIKES FOR YEARS AND ANYTIME I WRECKED, IT WAS BECAUSE I DID SOMETHING VERY STUPID. SORRY FOR ALL THE LOSSES. MAY GOD BLESS THE FAMILYS
  • rhino guy
    all of the incedents I have reviewed on rhino rollovers all point to one thing, pure stupidity. The rhino is one of the most stable vehicles I have ever driven. Lets let the drivers take resposibility for their own actions as is required by law with all other motor vehicles. Ford, Chevy or Dodge don't have lawsuits thrown at them when the driver is doing something wrong that results in an injury or death
  • Bob Berends
    I commend John and Tammie for their courage and persistence in establishing this website as both a memorial for their daughter and other Rhino victims, and as a forum to publicize the dangers presented by the Rhino.

    The fact that Yamaha persists in offering the same product without signifcant improvements is shocking. Too, talking to Yamaha salespersons one would think the Rhino is the safest vehicle around.

    I also lost a duaghter and can feel John and Tammie's pain and suffering.

    Let's hope that Ymaha fixes their design defect and no one else is killed or injured. That's my prayer.

    Bob Berends
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