Nyxailia Hinton’s family is seeking answers as the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the fatal incident.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — A 21-month-old girl died after falling and being struck by a vehicle during a visit to a pumpkin patch in Sevierville, authorities said, leaving her family searching for answers as investigators work to determine how the fatal incident occurred.
Nyxailia Hinton died Tuesday after the incident on Happy Hollow Lane, according to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. Preliminary information provided by county officials indicated that the vehicle was driven by a family friend. Deputies, detectives, ambulance personnel and other emergency responders went to the scene. Authorities have not released a detailed account of how Nyxailia fell or what happened immediately before she was struck.
Nyxailia’s mother, Peandra Hinton, told WVLT that her daughter had been in the care of a babysitter who took her to the pumpkin patch without her permission. Hinton said she did not know the group of people who accompanied her daughter. Those statements describe the family’s account of events and have not been detailed independently by investigators.
Hinton went to the hospital after learning that her daughter had been critically injured. Authorities said Nyxailia later died from her injuries Tuesday. The sheriff’s office has not publicly identified the driver or released additional details about the vehicle involved. Officials also have not said whether speed, impairment or another factor played a role.
The child’s death has left her family grieving while they wait for more information. Hinton remembered her daughter as a joyful child who could brighten the mood of people around her. “She just lit up the room,” Hinton told WVLT. The family said it has begun making funeral arrangements following the toddler’s death.
Nyxailia’s father said the family wants a full accounting of what happened and is seeking justice for his daughter. Authorities, however, have not announced any criminal charges or publicly accused anyone of wrongdoing. The investigation remained active as of Friday, and officials have cautioned through their limited public statements that the circumstances are still being examined.
County official Tyler Basler said the preliminary investigation found that Nyxailia fell before being struck by the vehicle driven by a family friend. Investigators have not publicly explained where she was standing before the fall, how the vehicle was moving through the property or whether witnesses saw the entire sequence of events.
The sheriff’s office said deputies and detectives responded along with the Sevier County Ambulance Service and other emergency personnel. Officials expressed condolences to the family but released few additional details while investigators continued reviewing the case. No information reviewed Friday indicated that authorities had reached a final determination about responsibility for the child’s death.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing. No charges had been announced as of Oct. 30, and authorities had not released a timetable for when additional findings might be made public.
Author note: Last updated October 30, 2026.