Lab Tests In On Dad In Drowning -- Father Still Held; Boy Conscious But Serious

Investigators have received preliminary blood-test results from the man whose car rolled into chilly waters off Whidbey Island, trapping two young children inside. But they have not said whether the tests show the man was drunk or on drugs.

The blood test is one way investigators hope to determine if Edwin Crisp negligently caused the accident that drowned his young daughter and left his son unconscious after being submerged in chilly water for about 30 minutes.

Three-year-old Edwin Crisp Jr. was in serious but stable condition last night at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Seattle. Five-year-old Breanna Ashley Sharon Eagle was pronounced dead several hours after the accident southwest of Oak Harbor.

Crisp, 33, of Vancouver, B.C., was booked on investigation of manslaughter after the accident early Thursday morning and was still being held on $3,000 bail last night.

Crisp has declined to speak with investigators.

"We really don't know his side of the story," said Lt. Chris Garden, of the Island County Sheriff's Department.

One of Crisp's public defenders, Craig Platt, said the incident was nothing more than a tragedy.

"Our client made valiant and repeated attempts to rescue his children without success," Platt said.

Edwin Crisp Jr. is the son of Crisp and a 22-year-old woman who was with Crisp at the time of the accident. Breanna is the daughter of Crisp and Tammie Eagle, of Burnaby, B.C.

Police are examining the 1981 Datsun B-210 that rolled from a boat ramp into the water. They're also checking Crisp's past relationships to see if there had been custody disputes.

"Anytime you have . . . people die, there's obviously a suspicion of some kind of wrongdoing," Garden said. "That's what we're trying to confirm or rule out at this time, and we've not made that determination yet."

Prosecutors have until Monday to decide whether they will charge Crisp with a crime.

Under Washington law, a manslaughter charge can be filed against someone who causes a death because of recklessness or negligence.

Crisp and the woman, described as his common-law wife, had parked the car on a boat launch on the west side of the island, facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at about 1 a.m. Thursday. The location, which offers views of the lights of Vancouver Island, is a popular spot for sightseers.

The children were in the back seat of the two-door car. The couple indicated that the car's reverse gear did not work, and they had gotten out to push the car up the ramp.

When they put the car in neutral, it rolled roughly 75 feet out into the water, sinking several feet below the surface.

The woman ran to a nearby house to call 911 while Crisp stayed with the car. When authorities arrived shortly after the 1:10 a.m. emergency call, Crisp was standing on the car's roof.

Firefighters responding to the scene fought darkness, stiff wind and rough waters for 15 or 20 minutes before they got to the children.

A nearby resident, Dr. Paul Zaveruha, head of emergency services at Whidbey General Hospital, also joined the effort, swimming out to the car to try to rescue the children.

While doctors yesterday remained cautious about young Edwin's recovery, medical experts said he is extremely lucky to have recovered as much as he has.

When trapped under water, the lungs become clogged, and oxygen can't get to the brain, heart and other vital organs. The longer a person is submerged, the more likely the chance of cardiac arrest and brain damage.

"The odds are way stacked against there being a good outcome," said Dr. Linda Quan, who is chief of emergency services at Children's and has long studied the physical effects of drowning. "Time is the issue."

While young children show a higher ability to adjust to cold water and a loss of oxygen, 30 minutes is too long for most to survive.

Kurt Buchholz, the firefighter who pulled the two children from the back seat of the car, said Breanna and Edwin were like "rag dolls" when they were rushed to a waiting ambulance.

Both were taken to Whidbey General Hospital, but only Edwin regained any signs of life, his air passages clearing and his organs slowly warming.

Yesterday morning, Edwin opened his eyes and was conscious, said Dean Forbes, Children's Hospital spokesman. But there has been no official word on what his recovery will be or if he is likely to suffer severe brain damage.

"He's been one really sick person," said Quan, who was not directly involved in caring for Edwin. "He's certainly not out of the woods."

Information from Seattle Times staff reporter Tyrone Beason and Associated Press is included in this report.