21-Month-Old Laramie Child Claimed In Flooding Related Death

Alex Jeffrey Dalles died Friday, June 10th at Children's Hospital in Denver, Colo. after being found in an irrigation ditch near his home on Thursday. Authorities say the 21-month-old lives on a ranch west of Laramie, where the swollen Little Laramie River feeds into the ditch.

Albany County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a call at approximately 11:22 a.m. on Thursday that Alex was missing. Lt. Brian Fritzen of the Albany County Sheriff's Office says Deputies located Alex 18 minutes later in 4 feet of water in the ditch and began resuscitation immediately. He was transported to Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie where a pulse was attained so he could be airlifted to Children's Hospital where life saving measures were continued until is death on Friday.

Fritzen told the Associated Press the death is clearly a tragic accident. The mother was in the kitchen when Alex pushed through a screen door and wandered 30 yards where he fell into the ditch. When she noticed the child was gone, the mother called for help within three to five minutes according to the Associated Press.

A service for Alex Dalles will take place in Laramie at Trinity Lutheran Church on Thursday, June 16 at 11 a.m.

While many areas around Wyoming are experiencing flooding, this is the first flooding related death in the state this spring. Increased irrigation has been encouraged along the Laramie River System since flood stage was reached in Laramie on Sunday, June 5. The heavy runoff from the mountain snowpack has all rivers, creeks, streams and ditches running higher than average.