On Saturday, October 28, 2023 at approximately 11:16 AM, I was advised by DeKalb County 911 Dispatch of a drowning on the Caney Fork River near the end of Love Valley Road.

I arrived at Happy Hollow Access Area at approximately 12:07 PM and began speaking to a witness who had kayaked downstream to Happy Hollow after helping at the accident location. Officer arrived at the property shortly after 12:00 PM and began speaking to witnesses and relaying information to other responding officers. 

Smith County Rescue Squad and DeKalb County Rescue Squad were on scene upon my arrival to Happy Hollow and launched a total of 3 vessels upstream towards the accident location. I was later advised that the missing individual had collided with a tree protruding out of the Caney Fork River. 

The victim was kayaking downstream. After travelling to the Corps of Engineers Resource Manager''s Office and gathering TWRA river vessels, myself and Officers launched the vessels at approximately 1412 and began looking for Victim by boat. 

Tennessee Highway Patrol was contacted and Officer maintained radio communication with the pilots near the accident location. Shortly after arriving, the helicopter was able to locate a suspected body submerged in approximately 8 feet of water and guided TWRA personnel to the location. 

Officers maintained visual on the subject until Rescue Squad arrived and recovered the body. 

Upon further investigation, I learned that the victim and his wife were kayaking along the river. The victim was floating downstream in a red kayak and his wife in a pink kayak. The deceased kayaker was not wearing a life jacket but had one on board. 

*** Upon further investigation, it was discovered that an autopsy was not ordered by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner''s Office nor by the family. Eyewitness testimonies and written statements were conclusive in determining the cause of death to be a drowning.
CANEY FORK RIVER