A young Tennessee family is mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of their toddler daughter following a tragic incident at a pumpkin patch in Sevierville.

Nyxailia Hinton, a bright and cheerful 21-month-old girl affectionately known as Zayla, died in the early hours of Tuesday after she fell and was struck by a vehicle at a pumpkin patch located on Happy Hollow Lane. She was rushed to the hospital with ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal injuries, including a cracked skull and cracked ribs, and required a blood transfusion. Despite the efforts of medical staff in the intensive care unit, she pᴀssed away shortly after midnight.

According to her mother, Peandra Hinton, the little girl had been left in the care of a babysitter. The babysitter then took Nyxailia to the pumpkin patch without the mother’s knowledge or approval. Peandra has said she was unaware of the outing and did not know the people who were with her daughter that day. Authorities later confirmed that the vehicle involved was driven by a family friend. The exact sequence of events leading to the fall and the collision remains under investigation by the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene after the incident occurred. Nyxailia was transported to the hospital, where her condition was ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal. Her mother arrived as quickly as she could, but the young child did not survive her injuries.

In interviews, Peandra has spoken with deep emotion about the light her daughter brought into the lives of those around her. “She just lit up the room,” she said. “If you were having a bad day, you see Zayla, she’s gonna turn it all around.” The mother has described the overwhelming pain of waking up and realizing her baby is no longer there, calling the loss something no parent should ever have to endure.

Nyxailia’s father has expressed the family’s determination to seek full answers and accountability. “We want justice for her,” he stated. “And we ain’t letting up. I don’t care if someone’s feelings get hurt; this has torn up her whole family. She wasn’t even 22 months old.”

As of late October 2026, the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that no charges had been filed. Officials have not released a detailed public account of how the child came to fall or the precise circumstances of the collision.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help Peandra Hinton, a single mother who is currently out of work, cover the costs of funeral arrangements. By October 30, the fundraiser had raised more than $7,000 toward its $12,000 goal. Supporters have been moved by the family’s grief and the sudden nature of the tᩚraɢedy.

Sevierville is a well-known tourist destination in eastern Tennessee and serves as one of the main gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains. What should have been an ordinary autumn visit to a seasonal attraction instead ended in irreversible loss for one family, leaving them searching for clarity in the days that followed.

The family continues to ask for answers as the official investigation proceeds. Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.