Sheriff: Boy Drowns In Pond Near Queen Anne's County Home

CRUMPTON, Md. (AP) -- Authorities in Queen Anne's County say a 2-year-old boy has drowned in pond near his home.

The county sheriff's office says the boy, Eric Hardy, was found Monday night in a pond about 50 to 100 feet from his home in Crumpton.

The sheriff's office says the boy's father was cleaning up after dinner while the boy's mother went to a nearby store, but when the father checked on the children, Eric was gone. The father and neighbors began searching for the toddler.

The sheriff's office says the father spotted Eric in the pond and jumped in. Neighbors began CPR and the boy was rushed to Chester River Medical Center, where officials say he died several hours later.