New Hampshire Campground Owners Sued in Flood Death

The family of a 7-year-old Rhode Island girl killed in a flash flood at a New Hampshire campground has sued its owners.

Kaitlyn Ferra was vacationing with her parents, Brandon and Donna Ferra, and her brother at Ames Brook Campground in Ashland in August 2008 when heavy rains caused two brooks to merge and quickly flood their area.

Brandon Ferra tried to drive his family to safety, but a torrent of water hit their SUV. Everyone was ejected except Kaitlyn, who drowned.

The family alleges owners Vernon and Barbara Marion knew the campsite had a propensity to flood but failed to tell them about weather warnings and did nothing to help them when others began evacuating.

Vernon Marion told the Concord Monitor he hadn’t seen the lawsuit. He said his heart goes out to the Ferras.

Latest Comments

• October 2, 2009 at 6:07 am

  wudchuck says:

  i don't think anything will happen to this campground. you take a risk of living/camping right beside any river. we grief for his loss. what would have happened if it had b... read more
• October 2, 2009 at 8:45 am

  Cynic says:

  Good point about earthquakes wudchuk since they would have to relocate that famous westernmost state to avoid them. If you talk about levees you would have to relocate New Or... read more
• October 1, 2009 at 4:42 am

  Cynic says:

  Nevau makes some interesting comments. I also ready some other information than contained in the IJ article which raised some questions. If what Nevau says is right on, then... read more