Young Brothers On Life Support After Sister Dies In Drowning
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IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) - A young Irving girl is dead and her brothers are fighting for their lives at a Dallas hospital, their injuries the result of an incident at an apartment complex swimming pool.
The three youngsters, a 10-year-old girl and 9- and 11-year-old boys, apparently got stuck under water.
Early Thursday morning officials with the Irving Police Department said the two boys are not doing well and remain in the Intensive Care Unit at Children's Medical Center. The 10-year-old sister of the boys, August Smith, died Wednesday.
Irving police have now also confirmed that the mother of the children does not live at the apartment complex. She and her family were there as guests of her boyfriend.
As far as what happens now Irving police public information Officer James McLellan said, "We're looking at everything. We're looking at all the circumstances that led up to this… what was done, what was not done, and just building a timeline of events that happened and how this happened. And of course do a thorough investigation and look back and see if there was any criminal wrongdoing, either by act or omission."
Officials also released new information that two siblings of the children, 3- and 6-years-old, were at the swimming pool, with their mother, during the incident. Child Protective Services is looking into whether or not abuse or neglect played a role in the death of August, and whether or not the other children will remain in their mother's custody.
It was Wednesday afternoon when the three siblings were pulled from what police and fire officials say was a "murky" swimming pool at the Oak Villas Apartments, in the 2300 block of North MacArthur Boulevard.
According to Irving Fire Assistant Chief R.W. Wilson, the children's mother, who doesn't know how to swim, was poolside. She apparently called for help when she realized the kids were in trouble and a maintenance worker heard her screams.
The worker rescued the boys first and bystanders started CPR, but we're told it was tough to see the little girl still in the water. August Smith was still in the pool when first-responders arrived. Wilson said the paramedic in the pool had to "go by feel" to find the girl, who was at the bottom of the deep end.
A news crew tried to speak with apartment community manager Yolanda Ledesma as she left the complex Wednesday. When asked if she wanted to take care of or clean the swimming pool she responded, "No comment."
Employees at the apartment complex could not be reached for comment today.
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