Children dead, father injured after ATV enters deep pond on Glanbrook farm
Hamilton police are investigating how an all-terrain vehicle wound up in a pond on a rural Glanbrook property, sparking a massive rescue effort that ultimately ended with the death of two children.
Paramedics rushed the boy, 6, and girl, 8, to hospital early Saturday evening after emergency responders combined forces to try saving them.
They were riding with their 35-year-old father on the side-by-side - a type of all-terrain vehicle with four wheels and a roll cage - in a field off Miles Road when it entered a 30-foot-deep pond and sunk around 4 p.m.
The Hamilton man was able to call for help, drawing firefighters, paramedics and police, including the local marine unit and Peel Region dive team, to the scene between Airport and White Church Road.
It was a huge turnout," Staff Sgt. Paul Corrigan said Sunday.
Everybody obviously tried to do their best," Corrigan said. And very traumatic for all involved - fire, paramedics and police."
The first officers on scene dove into the pond to try saving the youngsters, Corrigan noted.
Neighbour James Case says a very distraught" man he didn't recognize from the area frantically approached him while he was working outside.
He just ran into my house, saying that his kids were in the water," said Case, who was shaken up recalling the frantic moments of Saturday afternoon.
Case was on the phone with a 911 operators as he and the man ran over to the murky pond just north of his home. He grabbed a ladder to try locating the vehicle.
We saw where it went in, but the water's deep and the machine can't float."
Within minutes, police arrived and asked him and other neighbours to clear out to let emergency responders do their work.
The police's collision reconstruction unit continues to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy, Corrigan said.
We don't know how (the vehicle) got in. And obviously all those involved are very traumatized and not able to speak to us at the moment."
Investigators, however, have ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor.
The terrain around the pond - which is on a sod farm - is uneven and the body of water has some steep sides, noted Yvonne Sutherland-Case, who is James's wife.
If you were going quickly, it might be difficult to stop."
Late Saturday, after police announced the death of the children in a brief news release, Supt. Treena MacSween expressed sorrow via social media.
We are heartbroken over this tragic incident," MacSween said in a Twitter post late Saturday.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends (and) first responders during this difficult time."
On Saturday, police cruisers blocked access at Airport and White Church roads to the distant Miles Road property awash in flashing emergency vehicle lights.
It's an accident on a farm here," Staff Sgt. Tim Knapp told The Spectator in a quick phone call from the scene around 5 p.m.
About two hours later, Hamilton EMS confirmed three people - two children and one adult - had been taken to hospital.
We have transported two patients to local hospital in critical life-threatening condition with resuscitative efforts ongoing," Supt. David Thompson said via text message of the children.
The man was in stable condition, said Thompson, noting he didn't know his age.
An email to the fire department requesting details wasn't immediately returned.
As the investigation continues, police encourage anyone with information to call the collision reconstruction unit at 905-546-4753.
Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com