(RepublicanNews.org) – The Coroner’s Office in Indiana’s Crawford County has identified 69-year-old Bruce Vernon as the man who bizarrely plunged to his death at a partially-submerged quarry. Vernon had been employed at the site for 25 years as a dump truck driver before the tragedy occurred.
The Indiana resident was reportedly in his work vehicle when it slipped on the edge of an overhang and fell several hundred feet, killing Vernon in the process. It is not known if he was killed by the initial fall, or if he died following the plunge due to drowning. His employer, Mulzer Crushed Stone, ran the excavation site. The area is also referred to as Cape Sand Quarry.
Authorities have ruled his death to be an accident. The longtime driver’s body was not recovered until September 1th3, a full day after his fall had taken place. Because both he and his truck ended up submerged, Indiana State Police were forced to employ both divers and a remote submersible.
According to the department, Vernon’s body and truck were found in 20-30 feet of water. Because of what was reported to be extremely unsteady terrain, rescuers first had to engineer a temporary pathway down to the water’s edge before putting boats and sonar to work in the recovery effort.
Vernon’s obituary said he enjoyed his job so much that he would often arrive at work a full hour early so he could socialize with his co-workers off the clock. The tobacco-chewing churchgoer is described as someone who enjoyed watching vintage westerns, reading, following Indiana University sports and spending time with his family.
He graduated from the state’s Paoli High School and likewise earned a degree from IU. The Indiana driver was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind a wife, three sons and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
One study suggested that mine and quarry accidents account for about 30 deaths per year.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanNews.org
