North Las Vegas toddler drowned in water cooler

A 1-year-old boy drowned Sunday after falling into a plastic water cooler in a mobile home, police said Tuesday.

North Las Vegas police said David Aguilar fell head-first into the cooler, which was kept in the bathroom and used for flushing the toilet.

Sgt. Tim Bedwell, a police spokesman, said possible charges against the family have not been decided. The case remains open.

"We believe the boy was probably curious and tumbled into the cooler and drowned," he said. "This is truly a tragic but preventable death. Families have to be particularly careful with toddler-sized children, because if this happens, you won't be able to hear them scream."

Police first responded to the Aloha Vegas Mobile Home Park at 500 W. Miller Ave., near Carey Avenue and Losee Road, about 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

The boy died at University Medical Center.

Police said the incident occurred while the toddler was at the home with his 30-year-old father. Police think his 37-year-old mother was at work at the time. There were five other children in the home, ages 5 to 17.

The names of the parents were not released.

Clark County's Department of Family Services was working to relocate the surviving children, police said. Police said the conditions in the home were found to be "unfit" but provided no details.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.