The weekend's winter weather took a tragic turn in Guilford County Saturday with the death of a child pulled from the water after a sledding accident, the Guilford County Sheriff's Office said. Five adults who were part of the water rescue attempt in Whitsett, including two first responders, were transported to a hospital for evaluation.
The child, whose name, age and gender were not disclosed, was found in the water when first responders arrived on the scene shortly after 9 a.m. The child was taken to a hospital but did not survive.
The death of the child came as law enforcement agencies across Guilford County responded to calls for service on the roads during and following the winter storm that brought an estimated 2 inches of accumulation to the area, according to the National Weather Service.
Bria Evans, the public information officer for the sheriff's office, said the victim's identity will not be released because they were a juvenile.
The child accidentally fell into the water while sledding, Evans said. The investigation is ongoing and the medical examiner's office will determine the precise cause of death, she said.
The accident took place at 911 Golf House Road, which matches the address of Stoney Creek Golf Club in Whitsett.
Two first responders and three other people who took part in the rescue were taken to a hospital for evaluation following exposure to the cold water.
Additional information regarding the identities of those five people and their conditions was not available as of Saturday evening. Evans said federal health privacy laws prohibit her from releasing much information about their status.
Guilford County Emergency Services and the fire departments from Whitsett, Greensboro and McLeansville were among the agencies responding to the water emergency.
Also on Saturday, law enforcement officials around the county responded to multiple crashes. The Greensboro Police Department reported 27 crashes from 3-6 p.m. Friday while N.C. Master Trooper Brian Martin said state troopers were called to 65 crashes in Guilford County between late Friday morning and late Saturday morning.
In view of the continued hazards of ice, Guilford County EMS Senior Emergency Management Coordinator Tommy Sluder said the county is "strongly encouraging people to stay home and stay off roadways."
Greensboro was also calling on residents to be careful.
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"The residual moisture after plowing combined with the subfreezing overnight temperatures can create black ice on the roads," according to a release from the city. "Residents are urged to take extreme caution when driving in icy conditions."
The city of Greensboro has released an online tool that allows residents to track progress on road clearing. That interactive map can be found by visiting greensboro-nc.gov/snowmap.
The city has crews out working on 12-hour shifts.
More than 100 city employees were working to remove snow and ice from roads while more than 60 employees were working to remove the remnants of the storm from other surfaces, Greensboro Communications Manager Savion Thorne said in an email.
Resources available for the effort include 50 trucks per shift, four motor graders and 4,000 tons of salt, with 500 tons being used per shift.
City workers were treating and plowing Priority 1 roads, which include 1,180 miles of major thoroughfares and arteries, and Priority 2 roads, more than 500 roads of minor thoroughfares, bus routes and residential collector streets.
Priority 3 roads, more than 700 miles of mostly residential streets, are being plowed but not treated. City workers will also be clearing and treating surfaces at 74 critical facilities as well.
While the winter weather created hazards and cause disruptions, it also gave many residents and families a chance to enjoy a day in the snow.
Lauren Wimmer and her two children, 4-year-old T.J. and 2-year-old Serene walked around their snow-blanketed apartment complex off West Friendly Avenue on Saturday morning.
"This is her first snow," Wimmer said. "This is his first kind of really big snow."
The kids made the most of the day. As T.J. rolled down a short hill by the apartment buildings, his sister followed close behind proclaiming: "My turn! My turn!"
kevin.griffin@greensboro.com
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