A tragic incident in Lakewood has resulted in the death of a 3-year-old boy who fell into a septic tank yesterday afternoon. According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Darren Moss, the child was playing with an older sibling in their backyard on the 10300 block of 93rd Street Court SW when he wandered into the adjacent yard and removed the lid of a septic tank, as reported by KING 5.
The boy's older sibling, witnessing the fall, promptly went to inform their grandmother who was inside the home at the time, the family then made a call to 911 just after 2:15 p.m. and despite first responders rescuing the boy shortly after 3 p.m, he was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency crews, the lack of a dividing fence between the properties was noted by Moss, a detail that highlights an issue of safety in residential areas, as shared by KOMO News.
The size of the septic tank lid was "similar to the size of a sewer manhole," with a reported diameter of about three feet, which was clearly large enough for a toddler to fall through as Sgt. Moss indicated to the Tacoma News Tribune. The incident though having occurred at a location with a Lakewood address was outside the city limits, according to Moss and People report.
The community is now grappling with the aftermath of this heartbreaking event about home safety and the necessity of protective measures to prevent such tragedies the area, demonstrating the bond that neighbors share irrespective of city boundaries.
