Coroner: 6-year-old drowned after falling into manure pit on Lancaster County farm

Coroner: 6-year-old drowned after falling into manure pit on Lancaster County farm Advertisement Updated: 11:17 PM EST Nov 8, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Emma Hogan Assignment Editor Nicole Beltran Reporter Coroner: 6-year-old drowned after falling into manure pit on Lancaster County farm Updated: 11:17 PM EST Nov 8, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Emma Hogan Assignment Editor Nicole Beltran Reporter SALISBURY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Updated post 9:25 p.m. Sunday: The Lancaster County coroner confirmed to WGAL News 8 a 6-year-old drowned after accidentally falling into a manure pit on a farm Sunday afternoon. Advertisement According to emergency dispatchers, authorities were called to the scene at the farm around 4:04 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Meadville Road and Churchtown Road in Salisbury Township. While at the scene, neighbors of the farm told News 8 they had no idea what was happening. Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, the Lancaster County coroner, says no one saw the child fall into the manure pit. "It was unwitnessed, and there was a fence around the manure pit, but it appears that the child may have climbed up on the fence and may have accidentally fallen into the manure pit from that position," said Dr. Diamantoni. "The death of a child that way is an absolute tragedy." According to Penn State Extension, manure pits are storage structures used to hold and decompose animal waste. They can pose risks like "gas exposure, falls, drowning, and trauma from equipment." The coroner emphasizes they are especially dangerous for children. "Children that fall into the manure pit may be overcome by the gas and or may drown as a result of water that's in the manure pit." The coroner emphasized the death was accidental. The scene cleared shortly before 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Stay with WGAL News 8 as we learn more. Original post: The Lancaster County Coroner's Office has been called to the scene of a farm incident in Salisbury Township. Video above: Top stories, weather from WGAL News 8. According to dispatchers, officials were called to the scene of an incident on a farm around 4:04 p.m. Sunday at Meadville Road and Churchtown Road in Salisbury Township. The Lancaster County Coroner told WGAL News 8 that a child may have died, but a body has not been recovered yet. Stay with WGAL News 8 as we learn more. Lancaster residents find KKK flyers with candy, sparking concern Wall collapsed on 2 York Co. firefighters who responded to Maryland house fire; no injuries reported Make WGAL a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Coin flip settles a tie in a northern Kentucky election A shooting in the Polish city of Krakow killed 6 people. Here's what to know 'Little Rascals' star creates GoFundMe ahead of welcoming sixth child: 'No other choice' Police: Father left 6-year-old sleeping in line for Pokémon card release