News, Record-setting pilot dies at 26. (living in, daughter, children, Pennsylvania)

[JD59]

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Vicki Van Meter, who made headlines in the 1990s for piloting a plane across the United States at age 11 and from the U.S. to Europe at age 12, died in an apparent suicide. She was 26.

Record-setting pilot dies at 26 - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/18/van.meter.obit.ap/index.html - broken link)

[cpg35223]

You know, I remember this girl when all this was going on, and I remember thinking how pushy her parents were. Basically they shoved their daughter into the limelight at 11 by performing these stunts, so she basically peaked at the age of 12. What else was she going to do to top that?

[missyM]

My thoughts exactly.

[ScrappyNana]

I remember her too. I thought that she was growing up too fast. Sad eyes even with all her accomplishments. Seems too much for a little one to deal with. What a shame that she couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[mystree]

I remember it too I was living in the area.So sad

[cottonwood2420]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

You know, I remember this girl when all this was going on, and I remember thinking how pushy her parents were. Basically they shoved their daughter into the limelight at 11 by performing these stunts, so she basically peaked at the age of 12. What else was she going to do to top that?

My thoughts exactly. It's so sad when parents push their children into things they don't want to do. The result?: They are burned out before they are 18.