Family of 2-year-old who died in accident at Rose Pond shares their story

More details are emerging about the Monday night SUV accident that killed a young girl at Rose Pond in Bingham County.

Brynlie Carver was the 2-year-old girl who died at Eastern Idaho Medical Center, after her father tried repeatedly to pull her from the water. KIFI/KIDK spoke with the family members to get their story and to learn why they are calling the father a hero.

On Monday evening, Blake Carver, his wife, Cheyenne Rane, and two daughters were spending time on Rose Pond. The young family goes there often — throwing rocks with the girls during the cold months. They decided to make one more loop around the pond in their SUV, driving on the gravel bar — and that’s when the evening took a devastating turn.

“Once I got out on to it a little bit, I looked over and saw that the water was deep on the sides. And that’s when I put my car in reverse and tried backing up, and that’s when my front wheels sank down. I threw my car in four wheel drive and tried backing out and its just started taking on water,” Rane said.

The family said Carver was only able to get his window rolled down, and Rane started unbuckling their two little girls in the back seat.

“I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t see my girls. It was all murky. And I was just trying to reach around and try to find them. I was just thinking that we were all going to die,” Rane said, crying.

Rane said she felt Carver grab her hand and pull her out of the car.

“Right when I got to the shore, Blake was pulling Paitynn out of the car,” Rane recalled.

Three-year-old Paitynn was not breathing, so Rane started giving her CPR. Bingham County Sheriffs deputies arrived shortly afterward.

“Blake was diving down trying to get her, trying to find her. I was just thinking, ‘Please just get my baby. Just get my baby out,'” Rane cried. “And then I starting realizing he was struggling, and that when I was screaming at the officer, ‘Get in the water!’ He wouldn’t even put his boots in the water.”

Carver, a former Eagle Scout, was trying everything he could to break the windows — diving 15 feet below to try to reach Brynlie, who was still in the car. But once the deputies got to the scene, they wouldn’t let Carver keep diving for his little girl.

After deputies stopped Carver’s effort, Carver, Rane and Paitynn were taken to the hospital.
The family soon found out that a dive squad did retrieve Brynlie, but not until 50 minutes after the first 911 call.

“She was then taken to EIRMC, where they did everything they possibly could to save her. She was such a fighter. She fought to the very end. She was such a tough girl,” Rane said.

She was so tough, family members think, that she could have been saved if the dive squad arrived sooner and if officers had taken action quicker.

“I think he could have saved her life. I really do. If he would have helped — I know they have tools to break out windows. They have floatation devices. If he would have just got in the water, I know he could have helped save her life,” Rane said.

Brynlie is being remembered as a spontaneous, fun, and happy little girl who adored her older sister, family and life. Family members are devastated and feel lost, but are grateful for Carver’s efforts. If it wasn’t for him, a family member said, “We could have lost them all.”

“Anyone else that goes out there often, be careful when the ponds are thawing out. Because the rocks are really loose, they give away easily,” Rane said. “And just hold your babies tight.”

The family dog was also in the car with Brynlie. Rane said he never left Brynlie’s side, and he will be buried with her this Friday.

To help the family pay for funeral costs, visit https://www.youcaring.com/blakecarvercheyennerane-771486.