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HERRIMAN — A 6-year-old boy missing for nearly four hours was found in an open manhole Friday night.
Kollin Bailey apparently became stuck at the bottom of a manhole about 10 feet deep near 12600 South and 4500 West, Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said. A K-9 officer located the boy about 7 p.m.
Kollin had some scrapes, was mildly hypothermic and was taken to an area hospital. His mother, Shara Bailey, said he was in stable condition but he broke his arm and it will require surgery.
Kollin had told his mother he was going to play at a friend's house about 3:30 p.m., but when his friend wasn't available, Kollin took his bicycle and a kite to a grassy retention pond in the area.
"He came over to fly a kite and at some point fell into the manhole," Hoyal said.
All the while, Kollin's mother believed he was at his friend's house, and his friend's mother thought he had gone home. Shara Bailey went looking for her son about 4:30 p.m. and he was reported missing about 5:30 p.m.
Kollin was stuck in the hole for several hours before a neighbor helping in the search spotted his bike. A police dog, a bloodhound from the West Valley City Police Department, tracked the boy and led officers to the hole, Hoyal said.
An officer was able to drop down into the hole and lift the little boy out.
"We had great support from the community during this search, and it had a very happy outcome," Hoyal said. "With the cold temperatures out here, even though it's been a bit warmer this year, the cold temperatures could have been very detrimental to this child."
The manhole is under Herriman's jurisdiction, Hoyal said. Representatives from the city came to assess the hole Friday night and will make plans to prevent future accidents.
Contributing: Ashley Kewish, Lee Lonsberry and Megan Christensen
