Thursday, October 08, 2009
A 5-year-old J.H. Hines Elementary School student died Wednesday after a large cabinet fell on her at school.
Princanna Strain, a kindergarten student, was playing around midday in the G.L. Wiley Middle School gym when a large open cabinet on wheels tipped over on her. J.H. Hines Elementary students and staff have relocated to G.L. Wiley Middle School this year while a new Hines campus is being built.
Two or three students, including Princanna, had crawled into the open cavity of the cabinet, causing it to fall over on top of Princanna, hitting her in the head and face, Waco Independent School District spokesman Dale Caffey said. No other students were injured, Caffey said.
Some students said the children were chasing a lizard that had gotten into the gym, Caffey said.
Paramedics were called, and the girl was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 1:05 p.m.
“A teacher has a huge responsibility, and it only takes a split second for something unfortunate to happen, and, unfortunately, that’s what happened today,” Caffey said.
A shaken Hines principal, Archie Hatten, described Princanna as a loving little girl who had a beautiful smile and was popular with her classmates.
“I knew her very well. She would give me hugs every day,” Hatten said.
The Waco ISD school psychologist advised against making an announcement to the students about Princanna’s death, but a letter was sent home to Hines parents. Counselors were on campus Wednesday afternoon to support Princanna’s kindergarten classmates who saw the accident. Counselors will return to the campus today to be there for students and the school’s staff and faculty.
The teacher in charge at the time of the accident and the first teacher on the scene stayed after school to receive counseling. Hatten said he expects the teachers to be at work today to support the students.
“We’re going to try to have as normal a school day as we possibly can,” he said.
Hatten and some concerned Hines teachers and administrators went from school to the home of Princanna’s grandmother, who was her guardian. They then planned to go check on the teacher who was supervising during the accident.
“We want to make sure we live up to our creed of being a family at J.H. Hines,” Hatten said.
A Waco Police Department detective is assisting Waco ISD police in investigating the death, Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson said.
Princanna’s body was taken to Dallas for an autopsy.
Tribune-Herald staff writer Cody Winchester contributed to this story.
wgragg@wacotrib.com
757-6901
Comments
By boreshio
Oct 24, 2009 2:14 AM | Link to this
any negative thoughts about this tragedy that has happened to my god-niece is simply not called for. What possess a person to have theses kind of thoughts about a child's family. I watched her get on that school bus that morning never to return. Now the average person with a conscious send their kids off to school
By the aunt of princanna
Oct 21, 2009 5:42 PM | Link to this
to all who want to point the finger let us greif keep all your negative comments to your self we have been throught a lot shes gone but not forgotten .god has brought us this far and he will bring us through this tragedy. so please keep your comments . my mom reads this and it hurts her to read all that mess we are hurting right now so miss us with that god bless all that are praying for us and to the one with negativity we are praying for you god bless.
By the aunt of princanna
Oct 21, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this
to all who want to point the finger let us greif keep all your negative comments to your self we have been throught a lot shes gone but not forgotten .god has brought us this far and he will bring us through this tragedy. so please keep your comments . my mom reads this and it hurts her to read all that mess we are hurting right now so miss us with that god bless all that are praying for us and to the one with negativity we are praying for you god bless.
By ms. twest
Oct 15, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this
To my family (john)& (natalies)the father and mother of (princana). hold up your heads put your heart and soul in GOD HANDS he know best.he never make a misake.god bles this family please. also grandparents be stong you know that god knowns best he never do anything without a reason may god be with you ALL.
By Ms Connie
Oct 13, 2009 9:15 PM | Link to this
Princiana was my neighbor for a while in Plano, Texas. I will always remember your precious little face. I thank God for allowing me to be your friend. I know you are safe in the arms of Jesus right now.
By Realist
Oct 13, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this
May the little girl rest in peace. Her mother is locked up and it's just a say situation.
Now, if teachers are allowed to beat these non-minding kids asses, this wouldn't have happened. The teacher told these bad kids to get off of that cabinet. If they had home training, they would have gotten back after the teacher's first command. This is a wake up call for all parents. Make your kids mind! If you expect the teachers to raise your kids for you, give them a belt and alow that *** to get beat when they get out of line or make sure they do what they are told to do!
By A Member of Princianna Family
Oct 12, 2009 9:46 PM | Link to this
GOD KNOWS BEST. YES WERE ALL SAD BUT WHAT HAS HAPPEN HAS HAPPENED. SO PLEASE LET PRINCIANNA REST IN PEACE. THOSE WHO ARE PARENTS JUST TAKE THE TIME AND PRAY BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR CHILD OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY. SO FOR THE CONCERN OF THE PARENTS PLEASE LET US GRIEVE. YOUR COMMENTS AREN'T HELPING.
WE WILL MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU OUR PRECIOUS PRINCIANNA!
By Jr Collins
Oct 10, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this
Thats My Cousin I love Her To Death R.I.P Princanna IM GONNA MISS YOU MY ANGEL
By Sad in Houston
Oct 10, 2009 2:11 AM | Link to this
I have been debating for the last few days if I was going to even get on this blog. After reading what Tabitha and her follower's had to say, I just couldn't help myself. I believe that the teacher's "UTMOST CONCERN" was the children's safety and this is why the teacher advised the student's to stay away from the file cabinet when she saw that they were playing in or around it the first time. I am quite sure that if the teacher or the school thought that this file cabinet was something that would cause a fatality, it wouldn't have been there. Letýs be smart about this Ms. Tabitha. if we are going to make comments, letýs make sure that we try not to judge for we donýt know what lieýs ahead in our future. Teachers spend a lot of time with their studentýs and I am sure that this teacher is hurting just as much as the family. I think that what we as parents need to focus on, is that a little girl's life was lost and we can truly learn from this. We can point the finger and say that the teacher should have been watching the children better and this would have never happened and on the flip side of that we can also say that we as parents have to instill obedience in our children and make sure that they understand that it is very imperative to listen when an adult is telling them to do something. This lesson should be learned at home and not at school. We as parent's need to start taking responsibility when it comes to our children because the small things that we teach them in life could possibly save their life. My thoughts and prayers go out to this family in their time of grief. Things will work out for the good of them that love the Lord. God Bless the family, the teacher, the faculty, and the ignorance flowing on this blog.
By Jody
Oct 9, 2009 9:19 PM | Link to this
I am sorry for the loss of this presious child. My kids went to J.H. Hines last year. However one question I would have for the school is; Where was the teacher for this 4th grade class? I ask this because I have seen with my own eye's some of these teachers not accompany their group of kids where they need to be. If that teacher was present the gym teacher would not have had to turn her back. No teacher should have to control two different classes. That is too many kids for one adult, it doesn't matter who you are. I hope the gym teacher doesn't blame herself for this. after all it is not possible to be in two places at the same time.
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