Jump directly to the content

THE DAD of two girls who died after a brick pillar fell on their hammock said he had looked at the wall several times and never thought it would come down.

Scout Scaravilli, 14, and Chasey Scaravilli, 12, were at their home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, when the fatal accident happened on Sunday night.

 JJ Scaravilli said he does not blame anyone for his daughters' deaths
9
JJ Scaravilli said he does not blame anyone for his daughters' deaths
 Scout (left) and Chasey (right) were buried beneath the pillar rubble
9
Scout (left) and Chasey (right) were buried beneath the pillar rubbleCredit: .

The girls were both lying in a hammock tied between a tree and a brick pillar when the pillar suddenly collapsed onto them.

They were immediately taken to hospital, but unfortunately died several hours later from their injuries.

Their dad, JJ Scaravilli, told WKYC his entire family are "hurting", but said he does not blame anyone for their deaths.

He said: "I don't blame anybody, I don't blame myself, I don't blame those girls."

Of the pillar, he added: "I looked at it 100 times. I never thought a brick pillar would come down like that - it was never in my mind."

The dad, who was napping in the backyard when the pillar collapsed "in an instant", said: "Accidents happen. They were a gift and they're needed someplace else now."

The dad said his girls loved playing in the backyard together and were inseparable.

The Scaravilli family has now planted two trees in the place where the hammock had been.

JJ said of his daughters: "They were beautiful people. They were beautiful souls. I'm gonna miss them terribly.

 14-year-old Scout died alongside her sister in the tragic accident
9
14-year-old Scout died alongside her sister in the tragic accident
 Chasey and her sister were immediately brought to hospital where they died from their injuries
9
Chasey and her sister were immediately brought to hospital where they died from their injuries

"My children are going to miss them. My wife's gonna miss them. They are in everybody's hearts. They had a lot of support here tonight.

"That's the only reason I came, I needed that support from the community and I got it. I'm so appreciative."

Scout, a ninth-grader and Chasey, a seventh-grader, were students at Cleveland's The Hathaway Brown School, who released a statement about their tragic passing.

They were beautiful people. They were beautiful souls. I'm gonna miss them terribly

JJ Scaravilli

"The entire HB community is saddened by the loss of the Scaravilli sisters; they will be greatly missed by so many friends, classmates, and teachers," Hathaway Brown Head of School Fran Bisselle said in the statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers are dedicated to their family." 

Chasey was known at her school for her artistic abilities and her sense of humor, while the 14-year-old Scout was a devoted big sister and athlete.

 

 

The school's Director of Middle School, Sharon Baker, told  "You couldn't be around them without smiling or laughing.

"They brought such joy into every room they entered."

Police are investigating the incident, which is being called a "freak accident."

The sisters leave behind their parents and two younger sisters.   

 Scout, pictured in 2017, was an athlete
9
Scout, pictured in 2017, was an athlete
 Chasey, pictured in 2018, was known for her artistic abilities
9
Chasey, pictured in 2018, was known for her artistic abilities
 The two sisters died in hospital from their injuries
9
The two sisters died in hospital from their injuries
 The girls' dad said that he will miss his daughters terribly
9
The girls' dad said that he will miss his daughters terribly
 Hathaway Brown School, that the girls both attended, said they will be dearly missed
9
Hathaway Brown School, that the girls both attended, said they will be dearly missed
Topics