5-year-old drowns in private pond

A 5-year-old drowned in a private pond in Hoke County Friday night.

Investigators said Jerry Scott and his younger sister walked over to a private pond off Shankle Road. When Jerry slid down an embankment into the pond, the younger child ran into the house to get help.

Authorities received the call around 7:15 p.m. Several volunteer fire department pump trucks were called in to drain the nearly 12-foot deep pond. The child’s body was recovered around 10 p.m.

The child was from Turnpike and had been in the area visiting a home after his grandfather’s funeral.

The drowning was ruled accidental.