Two children killed in Minnesota field trip landslide
On Wednesday, May 22, 2013, Authorities recovered the body of a Minnesota child who was missing after a gravel landslide on a field-trip. Fourth graders from St. Louis Park Elementary School went hiking in Lilydale Regional Park on Wednesday, when the ground gave way. With all the rain Minnesota has gotten, the ground was soft and wet, which made it easy for it to give way. Students were hiking along a steep slope, hunting for fossils, when the ground gave-way and they fell into what became a ‘pit’. Gravel came on top of them and two students were trapped. Soon, they were both dug out by firefighters who clawed away the gravel with their hands and shovels. “Crews finally recovered the missing body on Thursday (May 23), after bad weather let up.” St. Paul Assistant Fire Chief, Jim Smith said. One of the children who was pulled from the slide, later died, but has not yet been identified by authorities. “One child injured in the slide has been released from the hospital and another remains in serious condition.” Officials say. One child was only partially buried, but another was completely buried. The search for the missing student was suspended overnight, but thankfully has now been found. Before the students were uncovered, St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard said, “Water is flowing right into the hole, making it extremely dangerous for rescuers to work anymore.” “Thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the children and to our first responders who continue to deal with the situation as it develops,” said St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “Classes went on at Peter Hobart Elementary, where the students were from, on Thursday.” district officials said. “This is an incredibly sad time for our schools and our entire school community. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and everyone touched by today’s accident,” St. Louis Park Public Schools Superintendent Debra Bowers said in a statement. “We, like everyone else, want to understand how this tragedy occurred, but today we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers for everyone involved.”
I think this is very tragic makes me worried about those going on field trips when wet outside. I think people need to be more careful when walking on wet, soft ground; although you never can predict when the ground may give-way. We need to continue to pray for those in Minnesota, who may have lost a son or daughter in this tragic incident.
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