HYRUM, Utah, May 21, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A 2-year-old boy has drowned in Blacksmith Fork Canyon, Cache County Sheriff’s officials said Sunday afternoon.
At 11:10 a.m. Sunday, dispatchers got a report of a toddler missing from a campsite area approximately 2.5 miles up the Left Hand Fork area of Blacksmith Fork Canyon, according to a news release from Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Mike Peterson.
Deputies learned that a Box Elder County family had been camping in the area over the weekend. At about 10 a.m., the toddler went missing after being left unattended for just a few moments, the news release said. The family searched for the boy for 30 to 45 minutes before calling 911.
At about 12:15 p.m., the toddler was found in the water of Left Hand Fork, a small river that feeds into the Blacksmith Fork River. He was found a half-mile downstream from the family’s campsite.
The child was unresponsive. Emergency Medical Technicians from the Hyrum City Fire Department and paramedics from the Logan City Fire Department arrived and confirmed that the child was deceased.
Investigators from the Cache County Sheriff’s Office and a representative from the State Medical Examiners Office are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
“Evidence at this point is leading us to believe that the child fell into the water and was swept downstream,” the news release said.
“This is a stark reminder of the dangers surrounding rivers and streams this time of the year. We are encouraging all people who recreate around water to be vigilant in keeping a very close eye on children. There is still a lot of snow pack in the mountains. Warmer late spring and early summer temperatures will certainly result in continued swift and high water conditions for several more weeks.”
No names will be released at this time due to the active investigation.
Blacksmith Fork Canyon is just east of Hyrum, and about nine miles south of Logan.
