Alaska News

2-year-old North Pole girl dies in home accident

A North Pole toddler died early Friday in an accident involving a falling air compressor in her family's home garage, Alaska State Troopers said.

Dehlia Shakoske, 2, climbed onto or pulled the handle of the 22-gallon air compressor as her father, 33-year-old James Shakoske, worked nearby, troopers said. The 75-pound compressor toppled and fell on the girl's chest.

Medics from the North Pole Fire Department responded at 9 p.m. Thursday to the Cassler Street home, troopers said.

Dehlia Shakoske "went into respiratory distress" and was in and out of consciousness several times, troopers said. She was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where she died at 2 a.m. Friday with her parents present.

The State Medical Examiner's Office has ordered an autopsy.

Troopers said they determined the death was accidental after they visited the garage and interviewed the parents.

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Reach Benjamin Brasch at bbrasch@adn.com or 257-4349. Twitter: twitter.com/ben_brasch

By BENJAMIN S. BRASCH

bbrasch@adn.com

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