Thursday, May 23, 2013
Their 2-year-old boy, Maddox Derkosh, fell into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last year and was killed.
The parents of the 2-year-old boy named Maddox, who was killed after falling into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last fall, have filed a lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for unspecified damages, according to WPXI. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Jason and Elizabeth Derkosh of Whitehall Borough claims that zoo officials had ample warning that parents routinely lift their children onto a rail overlooking the exhibit so that the children can see the dogs better, according to the report. The lawsuit states that zoos across the country have more and better safeguards in place to keep children safe. Thoughts on the lawsuit? Share in the comments below. Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Skip those dinner reservations.
Looking for a new way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year? (Men, it's coming up on Feb. 14.) Here are four, well, unusual options that may tickle your fancy: What did we miss? What other local Valentine's Day celebrations are going on? Tell us in the comments below.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
'Out of respect for the community and for the Derkosh family, the observation platform of the exhibit at issue would be removed,' stated Mike Manko, district attorney's office.
The observation platform at the Pittsburgh Zoo from which 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall Borough fell into an African painted dogs exhibit will be removed, according to a spokesman at the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office. "In an effort to facilitate the ongoing review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Maddox Derkosh at the Pittsburgh Zoo, District Attorney (Stephen A.) Zappala (Jr.) met this morning with Dr. Barbara Baker and the City of Pittsburgh police officers who responded to the scene," said spokesman Mike Manko in an email to reporters. Maddox was visiting the zoo with his mother on Nov. 4 when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the dogs exhibit and was mauled to death…
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
However, the Pittsburgh Zoo is still being investigated.
The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office will not pursue criminal charges against Elizabeth Derkosh, the mother of the late Maddox Derkosh, who was killed in a tragic mauling accident at the Pittsburgh Zoo in early November. However, according to KDKA, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is investigating a possible criminal negligence charge against the zoo. Elizabeth and 2-year-old Maddox, both of Whitehall Borough's Highgrove Road, were visiting the zoo on Nov. 4 when Maddox fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of an African painted dogs exhibit, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Pittsburgh police said that the child lost his balance after his mother lifted …
The dogs mauled a 2-year-old visitor to death in early November.
Less than a month after 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall Borough was mauled to death at the Pittsburgh Zoo, news has surfaced that the zoo's 2013 calendar features African painted dogs, the same species that killed the boy in early November. Zoo officials say that the calendars, featuring the dogs in its March spreads, had already been printed and made available to patrons before Derkosh's death, according to Huffington Post. Maddox was visiting the zoo with his mother on Nov. 4 when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of the dogs' exhibit, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Pittsburgh police said that the child lost his balance after his mother lifted him in a …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall Borough was buried on Friday.
William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott Township, the place where friends and family visited 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh on Thursday after his tragic death at the Pittsburgh Zoo, will continue for the immediate future to collect toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in Maddox's memory. Original plans were to collect trucks at Slater Funeral Service through Thursday, but a representative of the funeral service said on Friday that the toys collection will continue "indefinitely." The same can be said for the Whitehall Police Department, which serves the Derkosh family's home municipality of Whitehall Borough. A representative of the police station said that trucks can continue to be dropped off at the …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Trucks can be donated at Maddox Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
The Derkosh family of Whitehall Borough is asking that interested parties, in lieu of flowers, give toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in the memory of 2-year old Maddox Derkosh, who died at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday. The trucks will be accepted at Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon at 10 a.m. on Friday, according to Maddox's obituary on the William Slater II Funeral Service website. Before Friday's funeral and toy trucks collection, friends will be welcomed for a viewing of Maddox at the Slater Funeral Service in Scott Township from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday. Maddox was visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo with his mother when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Trucks can be donated at Maddox Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
The Derkosh family of Whitehall Borough is asking that interested parties, in lieu of flowers, give toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in the memory of 2-year old Maddox Derkosh, who died tragically at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday. The trucks will be accepted at Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon at 10 a.m. on Friday, according to Maddox's obituary on the William Slater II Funeral Service website. Before Friday's funeral and toy trucks collection, friends will be welcomed for a viewing of Maddox at the Slater Funeral Service in Scott Township from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday. Maddox was visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo with his mother when he fell from the top of a platform railing to …
Monday, November 5, 2012
The 2-year-old boy was being balanced on a railing by his mother when he fell 11 feet into the African painted dogs exhibit. Police had to shoot and kill one of the animals.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
The Pleasant Hills boy was being balanced on a railing by his mother when he fell 11 feet into the African painted dogs exhibit.
UPDATED: A 2-year-old child was killed at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Sunday morning after being mauled when he fell into the African painted dogs exhibit. "It is with heavy hearts we report that a tragic accident occurred this morning at 11:45 a.m. when a young child fell into the African painted dog exhibit area and was killed," the zoo stated on its Facebook page. "The accident is under investigation by both the Zoo and the Pittsburgh Police Department. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will remain closed until further notice." The child was with his 34-year-old mother, of Pleasant Hills, at the African painted dogs exhibit when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside the pit area, according to a statement …
Rachel M.
9:58 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
I don't think that this case will go anywhere as, if I'm remembering correctly from an article written in November, the Pittsburgh Zoo exceeded the safety requirements during it's review a few months before the incident. It's an unfortunate accident. Hopefully parents will be smart enough to either not have their small child stand on a handrail overlooking a pen of wild animals or at least keep a… more ›