James Rodney Elrod, 27, of Sparta, passed away Monday, April 30, 2001
An early evening swim across the murky waters of the Caney Fork River on Tuesday proved fatal for Rodney Elrod, 27, of White County. Two of Elrod's friends, according to Charlie Tollison, captain of White County Rescue Squad, had watched in dismay as he swam about half way across the river towards the boat ramp, then bobbed once or twice and disappeared beneath the surface. Van Buren and White County Rescue Squads were first to respond to the call, which came in around 7:30 p.m. A crowd of rescue, ambulance, and fire department workers assembled as family members gathered at the boat ramp overshadowed by the Tosh-Reno Bridge on the White/Van Buren County line. They watched nervously as Rescue Squad members zig zagged back and forth across the water dragging for Elrod¹s body. As one hour grew into two, Rescue Squads were called in from neighboring DeKalb, Warren and Putnam Counties. Van Buren County¹s diver, Jeff Bollinger, was on the scene early. When Putnam County arrived around 10:30, they brought more divers and a rescue dog, but they never made it into the water. Everyone held their breath as White County Rescue Squad member Mike Austin, riding the front end of one of the two rescue boats in the water went over the same spot several times in the middle of the river. As the other boat and the diver from Van Buren County came over to assist, they sent the word to shore, "We've got him." That was shortly before 11:00 p.m.
Greg Gardner
James Rodney Elrod, 27, of Sparta, passed away Monday, April 30, 2001
An early evening swim across the murky waters of the Caney Fork River on Tuesday proved fatal for Rodney Elrod, 27, of White County. Two of Elrod's friends, according to Charlie Tollison, captain of White County Rescue Squad, had watched in dismay as he swam about half way across the river towards the boat ramp, then bobbed once or twice and disappeared beneath the surface. Van Buren and White County Rescue Squads were first to respond to the call, which came in around 7:30 p.m. A crowd of rescue, ambulance, and fire department workers assembled as family members gathered at the boat ramp overshadowed by the Tosh-Reno Bridge on the White/Van Buren County line. They watched nervously as Rescue Squad members zig zagged back and forth across the water dragging for Elrod¹s body. As one hour grew into two, Rescue Squads were called in from neighboring DeKalb, Warren and Putnam Counties. Van Buren County¹s diver, Jeff Bollinger, was on the scene early. When Putnam County arrived around 10:30, they brought more divers and a rescue dog, but they never made it into the water. Everyone held their breath as White County Rescue Squad member Mike Austin, riding the front end of one of the two rescue boats in the water went over the same spot several times in the middle of the river. As the other boat and the diver from Van Buren County came over to assist, they sent the word to shore, "We've got him." That was shortly before 11:00 p.m.