Joliet, IL – A man drowned late Sunday night while fishing with a friend at Brandon Road Quarry. Will County deputies responded to the scene around 10:42 p.m. after a report of a man falling into the water.
According to officials, the 67-year-old witness said his 65-year-old friend fell off a seven-foot ledge into the quarry. The man tried to save his friend by offering a branch, but the victim couldn’t hold on and went underwater. The witness, unfamiliar with the area, struggled for two hours to find help due to the fading light.
When deputies arrived, they found the men’s fishing gear still at the scene. Authorities deployed drones to search the area, while the East Joliet Fire Department dive team combed the water. Unfortunately, the search ended at 2:52 a.m., when the dive team located the body.
The Will County Coroner’s Office pronounced the victim dead at 3:53 a.m. Initial reports suggest no foul play. An autopsy will determine the official cause of death.
The coroner will release the victim’s identity once proper notifications are made.
