Published: July 07, 2009 11:47 pm      

Toddler drowns in backyard city pool

CUMBERLAND — A 3-year-old boy died Tuesday evening after being found unconscious in his family’s backyard swimming pool.

Skyler Lee Crowe was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Western Maryland Health System’s Memorial campus, according to the Cumberland Police Department.

The city police and fire departments responded to the 100 block of Grand Avenue upon alert at 6:03 p.m. in reference to a small child who was pulled from the pool, the victim of an apparent drowning. Officers immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation until ambulance personnel from the fire department arrived and took over care of the youngster.

C3I investigators and the Allegany County Department of Social Services were notified and arrived on the scene within minutes of the incident and assumed control of the investigation.

The victim was at the residence with his father and grandmother when he left from their sight. Upon looking for the child a few minutes later, the grandmother located him in the above-ground pool that the family had in the backyard. The grandmother and a neighbor jumped into the pool and pulled the child out, according to police.

The victim’s body will be taken to the Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.

The investigation is continuing, however no foul play is suspected, said police.