Boy dies when soil collapses

A 9-year-old boy was found dead near his home Wednesday afternoon after earth surrounding a hole where he was playing collapsed and buried him, police said.

Earlier in the day, a child in the neighborhood reported that Zane Newton had been shot and kidnapped by a man wearing a mask and driving a black car, police said. The report led to a police search for the vehicle and an Amber Alert, which was later canceled.

Police discovered the body after being notified that the boys had been seen playing at the site, said Bakersfield Police Lt. Brad Wahl. Police said the boy fabricated the kidnapping account.

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-- Anna Gorman