Rescue teams searching for 7-year-old who fell into canal
Large, square spotlights lined the banks of a canal late Saturday as divers continued to comb the swift, cold waters for a 7-year-old Salt Lake boy who was seen falling in.
The 60 police officers and rescuers looking for Trejon Brown in a canal near California Avenue and Redwood Road planned to continue with the search until he was found, Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Scott Freitag said. Divers have lights on their helmets and underwater lamps. Also, rescuers have considered using infrared light that can sense the boy from his body heat. About 6:30 p.m. Saturday Trejon was playing with two friends at the canal, which is a surplus waterway for the Jordan River that flows from near Glendale Park (about 2300 South at the Jordan River) to the Great Salt Lake. Several motorists on Redwood Road and California Avenue saw Trejon walking on a water pipe, which is about a foot in diameter and crosses the canal. About halfway across the pipe, Trejon slipped and fell in, Freitag said.
Motorists saw Trejon go under one bridge at the Redwood-California intersection, but then he went into the water and hasn't been seen since.
Trejon lives just a few blocks from the canal, but he is unfamiliar with the area because he just moved to the neighborhood from a residence in downtown Salt Lake City. His family waited among the rescuers Saturday night, distressed.
"Last I knew, he went to the store," said Trejon's grandfather Wilbert Miller.
Trejon's family is hopeful that he will be found. "He's strong, and he fights everything," said Trejon's 13-year-old sister, Dane, one of Trejon's seven siblings.
The family says Trejon knows how to swim. "He taught himself, he and his brother," Miller said.
Rescuers have searched the canal from the area Trejon fell in northward — the direction the canal flows — to nearly the Davis County line. "We actually have airport police walking the canal," Freitag said of the portion of the canal that runs through Salt Lake City International Airport property.
Using formulas that consider the speed of the water, rescuers are fairly certain Trejon isn't farther than a half mile from where he fell, and rescuers set up a net that will catch him when he reaches the area.
The boy is black and is wearing red shorts and black sneakers.
"The water is very dark and murky" and full of debris and plant life on the banks, Freitag said. In some areas, including the area where the boy slipped in, the canal water is as deep as 12 feet.
Recent comments
i am a family member in chattanooga TN and our hearts go out to the...
gLoRiA | June 18, 2009 at 11:33 a.m.
It is such a tragedy! My heart goes out to the family and I hope...
Jenni | June 17, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
I'm sending my prayers to this family. My God be with you at this...
Anonymous | June 14, 2009 at 6:52 p.m.
- Survey says many mix religions 10:01 p.m.
- News briefs 10:01 p.m.
- City has Charlie Brown Christmas tree 9:59 p.m.
- Interim officials to let Zelaya leave 9:58 p.m.
- Reynolds leads Villanova to win 9:57 p.m.
- Commission's recommendations 9:54 p.m.
- Cities, counties to get energy grants 9:54 p.m.
- Census workers begin Utah effort 9:54 p.m.
- Backstrom shuts out Avalanche 9:54 p.m.
- Photo: Shoes for Christmas 9:53 p.m.
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers
- Cougars use depth to beat ASU
- Max Hall wants to look ahead
- Non-BCS schools not given fair shot
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Small plane crashes near Lehi
- Snow brings big chill
- Jazz go up against 'the best'
- Letters: Global warming a lie
228 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
178 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
147 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
138 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
121 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
119 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
100 - Revive full food tax?
99
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
My wife Lisa and I would prefer never to argue. But that's not going to...
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Idaho? Weber State? Silence.
They are all self reporting. If a man describes an encounter as casual...
Many of these posts illustrate what a sad world we live in. The song is...
I believe the BOM is historical. I begin with a spiritual confirmation. But...
Alpine, Nebo, and Provo districts worked together with other interested...
Todd: He could practice all day long with these guys but we all know it's NBA...
A lot of you are complaining about the "government having better things to...
I'm still new to this whole thing, after all i am still only in high school....
won't do any good to read it if the original data is missing and the rest of...
How about those who actually aren't sexually active? What is their emotional...



