No charges will be filed in the death of a 3-year-old boy who apparently fell into a restaurant grease trap in Rochester, New York, police said on July 16.
The boy fell in the grease trap Monday at a Tim Hortons restaurant. The child’s mother was an employee at the restaurant and had brought her son to work because she could not find childcare that day, Rochester Police Department Investigator Francis Camp told CNN.
Camp said investigators think the boy fell through a plastic lid that gave way and into the grease trap embedded in the ground outside the restaurant.
A 3-year-old boy died after falling into a grease trap outside a Tim Hortons restaurant in Rochester, NY, police say https://t.co/94ChzWkAtR pic.twitter.com/hae8Er4IrD
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 15, 2019
The grease trap was about 2-and-a-half feet in diameter and covered with a green plastic lid—much like a manhole cover—that helped it blend into the surrounding grass, he said.
“The lid was on there, it looks like the child ran across it and it popped open and he fell into the trap,” he said.
Camp said a witness found the child in the grease trap minutes after he was reported missing. The witness saw the boy and pulled him from the trap and started administering CPR, Camp said. The boy’s name has not been released.
Right Now: A crew is working to secure a grease trap at Tim Hortons on University Avenue. This is following a tragic accident earlier today. A 3-year-old boy has died after falling into this grease trap. Police attempts were made to save him but were unsuccessful. @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/fubViueURN
— Natasha Acrie (@NatashaAcrieTV) July 15, 2019
Attempts were made to revive the boy but they were unsuccessful, according to Camp.
“We have a horrifying episode here that happened today,” he said. “We’re asked all the time, ‘What’s the worst thing you encounter as a police officer?’ and this is number one.”
Vigil being held right now for the three-year-old boy who died yesterday after falling into a grease trap at Tim Hortons – a tough time for the community – officers joining the prayer that is going on now pic.twitter.com/r9fW483Jq2
— Amanda Valdes (@Whamandaa) July 16, 2019
The medical examiner’s office told CNN the cause of death will be released in coming days.
Tim Hortons provided CNN with the following statement:
“What occurred today was a tragedy and on behalf of the Tim Hortons family, we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the young boy who passed away. Tim Hortons is fully cooperating with authorities. As there is an ongoing police investigation, we have no further comment at this time.”
The city is currently pouring concrete around the opening in the ground where the grease trap was located and putting a metal lid on it, according to Camp.
This teddy bear has been placed where a now-filled grease trap sits outside the Tim Hortons location on University Ave. Police say a 3 y/o died after falling in earlier today. @13WHAM pic.twitter.com/HXN2VwZm3W
— Tanner Jubenville (@13WHAMTANNER) July 15, 2019
CNN reached out to the NY Buildings Administrative Enforcement Unit to ask if this location’s grease interceptor was up to code.
Camp said police will be following up with the DA’s office, OSHA and the medical examiner’s office.
A 3-year-old child died in Auburn, Alabama, after falling into a grease pit in October 2017 while on a family outing at an ice cream shop.