UT: Search will resume Monday for 3-year-old who fell into Weber River

By JaNae Francis   Hat tip: Ernie Coffman

OGDEN — The Weber County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue dive team was well-prepared Saturday when they got a call early that evening to look for a 3-year-old in the Weber River.

According to the latest search and rescue newsletter, they had met just that morning to prepare their dive trailer for the 2012 season.

Weber County search and rescue personnel and a host of volunteers spent the day Sunday looking for the body of Corbin Anderson, of Layton.

Family members at the scene gave the name of the boy Sunday morning to a Standard-Examiner photographer. Police were not identifying the toddler Sunday night.

The search was called off at 7 p.m. Sunday, but Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Lowther said it would resume again at 7 a.m. today.  The presumed drowning came at a time when the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City was warning area residents to stay away from riverways.

“Pretty much everywhere, the spring runoff is picking up speed,” said forecaster Mike Conger. “The water will be cold because of the snow melt.”

Conger said that with the last several days of warm weather, the snow melt has increased speed.  “The spring snow melt is under way and waters are swift and cold in streams and rivers,” states a warning on the organization’s website.

“Remember to keep children and pets at a safe distance from waterways as these waters can be dangerous.”

Dozens of vehicles lined the street near the search site at 300 W. Exchange Road in Ogden.  Handfuls of onlookers filtered through and watched from the viaduct above the river search area.

One such onlooker was an 87-year-old retired Weber County motorcycle search and rescue member, Deane Kingsford.  “I’m sure glad to see these volunteer groups. It’s a lot of effort,” he said.

Also a retired World War II Navy veteran, Kingsford said he imagined the water to be very cold and tiring for those searching for the boy.

“I wouldn’t imagine it would take much in the cold water to knock you out,” he said.  The boy reportedly fell into the Weber River on Saturday evening while the family gathered to have their picture taken near the river.

The boy’s father reportedly jumped into the river to retrieve him but was unsuccessful.