Lawsuit Filed By Family of Boy Crushed by Soccer Goal

A complaint was filed today by the Estate of Zachary Tran, the six year old Vernon Hills boy who died when a soccer goal tipped over and crushed him. The lawsuit, seeking unspecified money damages, alleges that the goal was defectively designed and that the Vernon Hills Park District and Greater Libertyville Soccer Association ignored the danger of it tipping over and striking players.

According to Shawn Kasserman of Corboy & Demetrio, who represents Zachary Tran’s estate:

“ Zac Tran deserved better. He went from pretending to be a goalie to being crushed by the very goal he was defending. The goal that crushed him is extremely top heavy and is easily tipped forward. The only feature designed to keep the goal from tipping forward are ground anchors that are not attached to the goals and often not re-installed after the goals are moved. Neither the Park District nor the soccer association took the steps necessary to make sure the goal was properly anchored down.”

“This was not a freak accident,” Kasserman added. “Rather, this was a problem known throughout the soccer industry. Zac was far from the first victim. Hopefully, this lawsuit will help assure that he is the last.”

Zak is survived by his parents, Jayson and Michelle, as well as his eight year old sister, Allison. Despite lifesaving attempts by a Vernon Hills police officer, an off-duty nurse and Zac’s mother, he died shortly after being crushed by the goal.