Joliet man drowns in Brandon Road Quarry while fishing

JOLIET, Ill. – A Joliet man has died after drowning in the Brandon Road Quarry while fishing.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office said just after 10:40 p.m. Sunday, deputies were sent to the Brandon Road Quarry – located in the 1400 block of Brandon Road – to investigate reports of a man who had fallen into the water and appeared to be drowning.

When deputies arrived, they found the person who made the 911 call near a home on Cecelia Avenue and spoke with him. The caller, a 67-year-old man, said he was fishing at the quarry with his 65-year-old friend when his friend accidentally fell over the side of the ledge they were fishing from.

The witness said he thought the ledge was about a seven or eight-foot drop. He tried to help his friend by grabbing a long branch for him to grab on to. His friend tried to grab the branch, but was unable to hold on before going under the water, according to investigators.

The witnesses added he did not have a cellphone and struggled to get out of the quarry to find help.

Deputies said the witness told them he was lost and took two hours to find his way out of the quarry as it was the first time he fished at the location.

Investigators went back to the area where the two men were fishing and found their fishing poles and bucket still at the location.

Just before 3 a.m. Monday, the East Joliet Fire Dive Team found the victim under the water, a short distance from where he was fishing, according to officials.

The Will County Coroner’s Office pronounced the victim dead at 3:53 a.m. Monday. Initial reports indicate there were no signs of foul play. An autopsy will be performed sometime Monday.

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