Fatality in Overton County, Tennessee

[Larry E. Matthews]

The local Nashville TV news tonight (Tuesday, April 6) reported that a Sheriff's Deputy fell down a deep, open air pit in Overton County, Tennessee. Apparently, he was trying to look down into the pit while searching for a missing person.

They showed a photo of the entrance, but I'm not sure what pit it was. It might have been the Great Saltpeter Chasm, but they said the pit was 160 feet deep, so that it too deep for the GSC. Of course, they could have the depth wrong.

It wasn't clear if cave rescue teams were involved, or not.

Anybody have more information?

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

[Larry E. Matthews]

Update. John Hickman just posted on the Nashville Grotto website that he is 90% confident that the pit was Hilham Pit in Standing Stone State Park. That would match what I heard earlier that the pit was located in Standing Stone State Park.

John posted a link to the local Channel 5 news story.

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

[trogman]

I didn't see the link, so I tracked it down:

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=12264010

Sad story. A reminder for those of us who frequent such places to be especially cautious when approaching the edge. I for one have not always been as careful as I should have.

Trogman

[Cody JW]

I have always been a "wuss" around the edge of pits, I figure if I have a rope going down the hole and a seat harness and a safety I will use it, better safe than sorry.

[Larry E. Matthews]

Yes, always use a safety, even looking over the edge !!!

What is so sad, is that this was a "Cold Case" investigation. If there was a body, or skeleton, down there, cavers would have found it and reported it long ago.

Larry

[wyandottecaver]

maybe, maybe not. we had a case here in IN where a murder victim was hid under breakdown just inside the entrance area of one of the most heavily visited caves in the state. I'm sure cavers had noticed an odor, but decaying surface vegetation and the occasional dead raccoon or possum was not so unusal there as to generate interest in looking for the smell. The killer soon confessed and led police to the remains.