The parents of a 13-year-old boy who suffered catastrophic injuries when he fell from a bunk bed in a Little League dorm have spoken for the first time about their family’s plight – and why they are suing over the “completely avoidable” incident
Last summer, then 12-year-old Easton — who was part of Utah’s first-ever Little League World Series team — fell out of his bunk bed while sleeping in the team dorms in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Speaking to ABC’s Good Morning America for the first time since the crash, Nancy and Jace Oliverson say the crash was caused by “gross neglect.”
After the fall, Easton was rushed to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery as doctors diagnosed him with a fractured skull and an epidural hematoma.
The surgeons thought he had little chance of survival, but their quick action saved Easton’s life. He is currently continuing his rehabilitation but faces a significant road to recovery.
The parents of 13-year-old Easton Oliverson filed a lawsuit against Little League in September
They say “gross neglect” caused their son to fall out of a bunk bed last year, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that put his life at risk at the Little League World Series
After three brain surgeries and countless hours in the hospital and rehab, Easton is recovering
On GMA, Jace opened up about the moment he was woken up by his son’s trainer and told him what had happened.
“So I sat him down, and as soon as I sat him down, this sweet boy instantly lost all ability to follow simple commands like ‘Easton, sit up straight, Easton, open your eyes,'” said Jace Oliverson.
At the hospital, Jace said a doctor told him Easton had a zero percent chance of survival and told him, “Dad, you have to kiss your son goodbye.”
The Oliversons filed a lawsuit against Little League Baseball Inc. in September 2022, alleging that the lawsuit uncovered a long history of falls from bunk beds in the dormitories, dating back at least to 2005.
Ken Fulginiti, an attorney representing the parents, says the bunk beds didn’t have bars – adding there was “no reason” for it.
“Everything we went through was 100% preventable,” said Nancy Oliverson.
“Kids fall off the top bunks of the bunk beds and they may not have had injuries as serious as Easton did, but they were orthopedic injuries, they were concussions, they were things like that,” Fulginiti said.
Oliverson was discharged from hospital in August and posted a video to the Miracles for Tank Instagram page to raise awareness of his condition, which read: “Hi everyone, this is Easton – thanks for all your prayers .” Please keep praying for me as I get better. I know the prayers and blessings have worked and that Heavenly Father is blessing me.”
Easton was discharged from hospital in August and filmed in an Instagram video (above) thanking people for the support and prayers he had received
After being diagnosed with a fractured skull and an epidural hematoma following the fall, he endured many hours of rehab
At the time of his release, CBS said Oliverson was making “significant progress” in his recovery, while USA Today reported that Dr. Oded Goren, the doctor who treated Easton, said he believed there would be no permanent damage.
“At such an early stage it’s impossible to really predict, but the way he’s recovered and what the first scans after his surgery looked like… there’s no evidence of any damage to the brain itself from the initial trauma,” he said goren.
“So taking the pictures that look amazing and watching his clinical progress going so well gives me hope for a full recovery.”
In a statement to ABC News, Little League said, “As an exercise of extreme caution, following Easton’s fall, Little League removed all bunks from the dormitories and placed each bedstead on the floor individually, and we continue to review and assess safety protocols to prevent.” that such an accident will ever happen again.”
The league added, “We continue to offer our prayers and support to Easton Oliverson as he recovers and heals.”
Easton is on the long road to recovery nine months later. He underwent three brain surgeries, several weeks in the hospital, and many hours in rehab.
The family credits the power of prayer for Easton’s survival today.