Mom breaks silence about child's death

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - For the first time since the death of her 11-year old daughter, a Providence woman has broken her silence about the tragedy that brought a hidden danger to light.

Eleven-year-old Christiana Sarty was playing in her family's living room last year when she fell through a glass coffee table. The large shards left deep cuts, causing Christiana to lose too much blood. She later died at the hospital.

Her mother, Mariama Sarty was on her way home from work when her daughter was rushed to the hospital. When she finally got there, it was too late.

"When I go to the hospital the doctor tell me, 'you're daughter didn't make it," Sarty said.

Sarty said it's still hard to believe a piece of furniture meant to decorate her home, took her daughter's life - a daughter who would have been 12-years-old this month.

"Our innocent children dying through glass table. Like my daughter. I can't replace her anymore," Sarty said. "My daughter like to read a lot. She like to do everything. She was mommy's little helper, caring for her siblings and cleaning around the house."

Sarty said if she knew the table could be so dangerous, she would never have bought it.

Sadly, Eyewitness News has learned glass table injuries aren't as rare as one might think, and it's nearly impossible to tell if a table is made with "safety" glass just by looking at it.

Tuesday night on Eyewitness News at 10 on Fox Providence and on Eyewitness News at 11 on WPRI 12, we'll take a closer look at this hidden danger, the injuries involved and what's being done to protect children like Christiana.