A Tennessee family is searching for answers after 21-month-old Nyxailia Hinton died after being struck by a vehicle during a visit to a pumpkin patch in Sevierville.

The toddler, affectionately called “Zayla” by her family, was taken to the hospital in critical condition after the October 27 incident. Despite emergency medical treatment, she died shortly after midnight.

Her mother, Peandra Hinton, says she never gave the babysitter permission to take her daughter to the pumpkin patch. She also says she did not know the people who were accompanying the little girl that day.

Now, as the family prepares to say goodbye to a child they describe as full of happiness and personality, they are demanding a clearer explanation of what happened.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the incident remains under investigation. No charges had been announced in the latest reports.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH?
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 27, at a pumpkin patch on Happy Hollow Lane in Sevierville, Tennessee.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Nyxailia fell and was struck by a vehicle driven by a family friend.

Authorities have not publicly explained exactly how the toddler fell, where she was standing when the vehicle struck her, or what happened in the moments immediately before the collision.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and the child was transported to a hospital for urgent treatment.

The circumstances remain unclear, and investigators have not released a detailed timeline of the incident.

That lack of information has left the family with difficult questions about how a routine outing ended in such a devastating loss.

MOTHER SAYS SHE NEVER APPROVED THE TRIP
One of the most troubling details raised by Nyxailia’s mother concerns how the toddler ended up at the pumpkin patch.

Peandra Hinton told local television station WVLT that her daughter had been left with a babysitter, who then took the child to the attraction without her permission.

Hinton also said she did not know the group of people who were with her daughter during the outing.

The mother has described the situation as especially difficult because she was not aware that her toddler had been taken to the location.

According to the family’s account, the first notification about the accident came from the babysitter’s mother, who contacted Hinton to tell her what had happened.

Hinton then rushed to the hospital, where doctors were treating her daughter.

The identity of the babysitter has not been publicly released, and authorities have not announced whether the caregiver or the driver faces any charges.

It is important to distinguish the mother’s account from the official findings: investigators have confirmed that the child was struck by a vehicle driven by a family friend, but have not publicly established whether any criminal wrongdoing occurred.

THE TODDLER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES
A fundraising appeal created to help the family with funeral expenses provided further details about the little girl’s medical condition.

According to the account shared by her mother, Nyxailia suffered a fractured skull and fractured ribs. She also required a blood transfusion as doctors worked to save her.

The injuries were severe, and the toddler was taken into intensive care.

But the family received devastating news. Nyxailia died at approximately 12:45 a.m. on October 27, according to the fundraising page.

Her death came just hours after the incident.

The family is now facing the difficult task of arranging a funeral instead of preparing for the Halloween celebrations that had been approaching.

“SHE JUST LIT UP THE ROOM”
As Peandra Hinton spoke about her daughter, she remembered a little girl whose presence could change the mood of everyone around her.

“She just lit up the room,” Hinton told WVLT.

She explained that even someone having a difficult day could feel better simply by seeing Zayla.

The mother also described the pain of waking up and realizing her daughter was no longer there.

“The fact that I couldn’t wake up this morning to my baby, it really tore me up,” she said.

Her words reflect the suddenness of the loss. Nyxailia was only 21 months old, not even two years old, when her life ended.

For the family, the memories of her smile and personality have become especially precious as they try to understand what happened.

FATHER SAYS FAMILY WILL CONTINUE SEEKING JUSTICE
Nyxailia’s father has also spoken publicly about the family’s desire for accountability.

He said the loss had affected the entire family and that they would continue seeking answers.

“We want justice for her,” he said, adding that the family would not stop asking questions about what happened.

His statement reflects the family’s frustration with the unanswered questions surrounding the outing, the circumstances of the collision and the decisions made before the toddler was taken to the pumpkin patch.

At this stage, however, the investigation has not resulted in publicly announced charges.

The family is seeking answers, but the authorities will need to establish the facts before determining whether anyone should face criminal responsibility.

A FAMILY NOW PREPARING A FUNERAL
The tragedy has transformed what should have been an ordinary week before Halloween into a period of mourning.

Instead of celebrating with their little girl, Nyxailia’s relatives are making funeral arrangements and trying to support one another through the loss.

A fundraising campaign was created to help cover burial expenses. Donations from people moved by the family’s story have helped provide financial support during this difficult time.

The appeal also describes Peandra as a mother facing the enormous challenge of grieving her child while trying to hold her household together.

The response from the community reflects how deeply the story has affected people who have followed the family’s search for answers.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES — NO CHARGES ANNOUNCED
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has said the incident remains under investigation.

Authorities have not released further details explaining the exact circumstances of the collision, and no charges had been announced in the reports available as of November 2, 2026.

Several important questions remain:

Why did the babysitter take Nyxailia to the pumpkin patch without her mother’s approval, according to the mother’s account?
What happened immediately before the toddler fell?
Where was the vehicle positioned when the child was struck?
Were there witnesses who can help investigators reconstruct the incident?
Will investigators determine that any individual violated the law?
These questions may be addressed as the investigation progresses. Until authorities release further findings, it would be premature to assign criminal responsibility to the driver or caregiver.

For Nyxailia’s family, the priority is finding out exactly what happened and ensuring that their daughter’s story is not forgotten.

At just 21 months old, Zayla had barely begun her life. Her mother remembers her as a little girl who could brighten any room, while her father says the family will continue demanding answers.

What happened at the pumpkin patch remains under investigation — and the family is still waiting for the explanation they desperately need.