It must have been another type of eatery before it was a Brusters or it would not have a grease pit that large. So much had to go wrong. 1. The lid was not properly secured. 2. The adults were looking away at the moment it happened. 3. The siblings, who witnessed it (if they did) were too young to quickly realize the danger and communicate an alarm to the adults.
Just a crushing and heartbreaking news story.
Yes to all your points.
The parents are going to be wracked with guilt for the rest of their lives.
My sister lost a son at 9 to cancer; she still beats herself up for not getting other opinions, etc. It has destroyed her marriage and the older brother, who was a straight-A student, is now failing and into drugs.
We need to pray for this family. Such a loss has devastating consequences for years. And they probably never go away.
The little girl is in the arms of Jesus now...