A 5-year-old child drowned Saturday evening in a Chaska lake after leaving home on foot, police said Sunday.
About 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Chaska police responded to a report of a missing 5-year-old on the 800 block of Walnut Place in the southwestern suburb. The child likely walked away from a residence alone.
Officers began looking for the child, with six agencies assisting by using a drone, helicopter, search-and-rescue dogs and on-foot searchers, a Chaska police department release said.
First responders found the child unconscious in the water at the Brickyard Clayhole, a local lake. Lifesaving efforts were performed on-site and the child was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead, likely of an accidental drowning, the release said.
The incident remains under investigation by Chaska police.
Chaska Police Chief Ryan Seibert called the incident a tragedy and said the department's thoughts are with the child's family, the release said.
The Brickyard Clayhole is less than 500 feet from the 800 block of Walnut Place.
Erin Adler • 612-673-1781
