10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

State Police identify child who drowned in Wood County

WASHINGTON, W.Va. — An young girl has died after an accident while she was playing near a swollen stream.

State Police say Harlee Becker, 11, of Washington was playing with friends around a stream near her home that had suddenly risen after a deluge of rain. She slipped and fell into the water, just feet away from a flooded culvert.

“She was within a few feet she was washed into that culvert that was covered,” said State Police Sgt. Brent Keefer. “First responders, troopers, and deputies made every attempt possible to try and rescue her, but it was much too late.”

The culvert was about eight feet long and was filled with rushing water.  Once sucked into the rushing current, it appeared young Harlee became trapped, Keefer said.

“With that much water in that small a space, as heavy as water is with that kind of force behind it, it was just a lost cause,” Keefer explained. “No matter if they had been on the scene within seconds I have a feeling it would have been a tragedy.  As soon as she went into that culvert it would be virtually impossible to rescue her without heavy equipment.”

Parents were alerted by other children who were there and witnessed the tragic accident.

“There were several children playing and one of the children went to fetch the parents,” Keefer added. “If it hadn’t been for those children and she was by herself, we may still not know.”

The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. Thursday near Harlee’s residence in the Washington community of Wood County.





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