Maddie VanderLugt
8B #20
Death By the Mississippi
Sometime last week two children were killed on a field trip to the Mississippi river. Some 4th graders from Peter Hobart Elementary school went to look for fossils along the Mississippi, due to the rainy weather, the ground gave in. Four children were buried, but only two died. The first child was uncovered very quickly, it took a few hours to find the second (he was half submerged in water), the third child was found and died later in the hospital, and the fourth child wasn’t found until the next morning, dead.
I can’t believe something like this happened, it’s so sad to think that these kids were so young and were just on a field trip with their classmates, but it cost them their lives. I can’t imagine going the way they did and I feel awful for the parents and loved ones of these kids. I just wish there was some way this could have been prevented.
Due to the rainy weather? did they fall into the river?
No, I’m pretty sure the ground basically caved in, then they fell in and more dirt came in over top of them.
That is awful! For the first couple kids they found, did the grade/teachers dig them up? Or did the police come and find them?
The children were all found by fire fighters and I’d assume that there were some police officers there as well.
Why would they go by the river is there was that risk already present?
I’m sure they weren’t aware of the risk.
Did anyone know before they went that the ground was unstable and not safe to look for fossils on?
I’m not positive, but I would think no. I wouldn’t think they would go out by the Mississippi if they knew the ground wasn’t safe.
WOW
So the ground wasn’t stable, right?
That is right.
Wow! That is a very tragic thing. I hope the kids knew Jesus at least…..
I wonder why they went out in the rain though?
I know. The kids weren’t out in the rain, the ground was soaked from previous rainfall.
This is terrible! Those poor kids, and there families! Did any of there classmates see this happen?
Yes, they all did. Very tragic.
Good Article Madog. I can’t believe that it took them until the next morning to find the kid. I feel bad for their families and the students in their class.
Super duper fantastic awesome amazing job madog!!!!!! When the kids went to look for fossils did the teachers know they left?
Thanks Dave, haha. Well the field trip was specifically set for looking for fossils. It’s not like the kids wandered off.
That is very sad , have the families come out about it
No, not that I’m aware of.