Associated Press
September 4, 1997
CARPINTERIA -- A 6 year old boy, who plunged to his death because a concrete septic tank cover gave way under his weight, fell because the tank apparently was not properly maintained, experts said.
Romero Garcia died Tuesday despite frantic efforts by his father to lower himself into the 1,200 gallon tank with a garden hose around his waist.
The concrete tank plug that gave way was covered by overgrown grass.
Methane gas, generated by decomposing material in septic tanks, can over time affect the concrete, said Nick Andrade, chief building inspector with Santa Barbara County's Building and Safety Division.
"It can deteriorate concrete to a point where it reduces the strength of the material," Andrade said. "The lid at this point had deteriorated and could not support the weight of the earth covering it, plus the weight of the child. It just crumbles."
Joe Guzzardi, county environmental health specialist, said the tank apparently was an older type, about 30 years old, mostly used by homes in rural, unincorporated areas.
The boy remained in the liquid waste for about 50 minutes until rescue workers managed to hook his pants with a pole and pull him out. He was pronounced dead at 12:11 p.m. at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Romero had been playing with family dogs on the lawn within sight of several adults, witnesses said. Jose Garcia-Cruz glanced at his son to see the ground swallow him, and the horrified mother watched her son being pulled out of the tank, said sheriff's Deputy Alfredo Ontiveros.
Maintenance of the tanks, recommended every two to three years, is the responsibility of the property owner.
The accident occurred at a home owned by Niels and Mette Harboe. The family rents a mobile home across a creek bed from the home, where Garcia-Cruz has worked as a gardener for about three years.
It wasn't immediately known whether the septic tank was active. If it had been abandoned, the tank should have had holes drilled in the bottom, and its interior filled with sand or soil, Guzzardi said.
Carpinteria is about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles.