Teh One Who Knocks
05-09-2012, 12:55 AM
Written by Adam Tamburin - Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
CLARKSVILLE, TENN. — Two local parents are considering legal action against a fast-food giant after their daughter fell into a vat of grease steps away from the restaurant’s patio.
Five-year-old Lily Clark fell into the buried “grease trap” at the Madison Street Sonic after dinner on April 28 and was “engulfed in grease,” according to her mother, Dana Clark.
The vat is under landscaping that is a few feet from the tables and chairs on the business’ patio, and is covered by a round disk that subtly juts out of the mulch.
The disk is stamped with a warning that says, “Warning: Do not enter. Poison gas.”
That cover was “dislodged” when Lily fell in, according to a statement from Sonic spokeswoman Christi Woodworth.
Clark’s husband Michael Clark and her three other children were on hand, she said.
Michael Clark couldn’t see his daughter through the grease at first, she said, but pulled her up when she raised her hands for help.
An assistant manager at the store called 911 at 7:49 p.m., according to E911 records. She was taken to Gateway Medical Center shortly afterward.
Lily soon received a clean bill of health, aside from grease doctors found in her ears.
“Physically she’s miraculously fine,” her mother said.
However, Clark said, her typically outgoing daughter was shaken by the incident.
“She doesn’t even want to drive by Sonic now,” Clark said. “I’m just worried about the long-term effects now.”
Woodworth said Sonic is investigating the matter.
“The drive-in has referred this matter to its insurance carrier for handling,” Woodworth said. “Meanwhile, the drive-in is reviewing all relevant policies, procedures and precautions to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”
Vendors are usually responsible for safely removing and replacing coverings, Woodworth added.
“We are deeply sorry for any injury or harm that may have come to this child and are taking action to ensure an accident like this does not occur in the future.”
Clark and her husband are communicating with lawyers now, and Clark said she wanted this incident to serve as a learning experience.
“This needs to be a lesson to all restaurants,” she said. “You can’t have stuff like that open near children. It’s just ridiculous.”
CLARKSVILLE, TENN. — Two local parents are considering legal action against a fast-food giant after their daughter fell into a vat of grease steps away from the restaurant’s patio.
Five-year-old Lily Clark fell into the buried “grease trap” at the Madison Street Sonic after dinner on April 28 and was “engulfed in grease,” according to her mother, Dana Clark.
The vat is under landscaping that is a few feet from the tables and chairs on the business’ patio, and is covered by a round disk that subtly juts out of the mulch.
The disk is stamped with a warning that says, “Warning: Do not enter. Poison gas.”
That cover was “dislodged” when Lily fell in, according to a statement from Sonic spokeswoman Christi Woodworth.
Clark’s husband Michael Clark and her three other children were on hand, she said.
Michael Clark couldn’t see his daughter through the grease at first, she said, but pulled her up when she raised her hands for help.
An assistant manager at the store called 911 at 7:49 p.m., according to E911 records. She was taken to Gateway Medical Center shortly afterward.
Lily soon received a clean bill of health, aside from grease doctors found in her ears.
“Physically she’s miraculously fine,” her mother said.
However, Clark said, her typically outgoing daughter was shaken by the incident.
“She doesn’t even want to drive by Sonic now,” Clark said. “I’m just worried about the long-term effects now.”
Woodworth said Sonic is investigating the matter.
“The drive-in has referred this matter to its insurance carrier for handling,” Woodworth said. “Meanwhile, the drive-in is reviewing all relevant policies, procedures and precautions to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”
Vendors are usually responsible for safely removing and replacing coverings, Woodworth added.
“We are deeply sorry for any injury or harm that may have come to this child and are taking action to ensure an accident like this does not occur in the future.”
Clark and her husband are communicating with lawyers now, and Clark said she wanted this incident to serve as a learning experience.
“This needs to be a lesson to all restaurants,” she said. “You can’t have stuff like that open near children. It’s just ridiculous.”