Quarry victim's son wants body removed politely told to go home

Bangor News ^ | January 22, 2005

[mudblood]

I'm on this guy's side. Heck, he was even going to pay for it. I'm not sure what the actual costs are, but 8k is no pittance. The government should help him - particularly as it seems that the roads he paid taxes for resulted in her death. All this, of course, based purely on a quick read of the article. If tomorrow I read, "Son didn't actually ahve 8k" or "Son despised mom for years, trying to sue the state to pay for gambling debts" then that's another story.

[Popman]

Wow, what a story.

I feel badly the son can't get his mother to bury her, but why compound the tragedy by putting other people lives at risk.

[ClearCase_guy]

Dennison said he saw items in the road that he knew came from his mother's truck.

What am I missing? If the car skidded off the road, went over a cliff, into a quarry, and sank in 105 feet of water -- why is debris scattered in the road?

[drt1]

Maybe just close the road? Common sense alert!

[Fierce Allegiance]

Most car accidents happen within 5 miles of home, so we moved.

[robowombat]

Yes here is the followup. The county still seemed to have a 'wait until May' attitude. There is a real safety problem caused by the numerous abandoned quarries in the area east of Bangor. Roads are poor in Maine, narrow with no sholders, weather is frequently brutal, and a moment's inattention or just plain bad luck during lousy weather can get you a trip over the brink into one of these water filled quarries.
Diver recovers body of woman Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - Bangor Daily News Avg. User Rating Email This Article To A Friend Print This Article Go Back BDN photo by Gabor Degre A vehicle is pulled from an abandoned quarry on Old County Road in Rockland on Tuesday. The body of driver Llynne Haskins, who died after her SUV skidded off the cliff into the quarry last Thursday morning, was also recovered Tuesday. ROCKLAND - A recovery team using chain saws cut through the foot-thick ice atop an abandoned limestone quarry Tuesday, and then a diver slipped beneath the surface and quickly found the body of a local woman whose Chevy Blazer had plunged into the water five days earlier. Llynne Haskins, 46, had been taking her cat to a veterinarian last Thursday morning when she apparently lost control of her blue sport utility vehicle on Old County Road. It rolled over a stone wall and plummeted 60 feet before crashing through the ice in the city-owned quarry. Her body, still inside the SUV, was recovered from water about 35 feet deep about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. It was unclear whether the cat was recovered. Last week, authorities had said they thought the SUV was in 105 feet of water and that they would not try to recover the body until spring. But Haskins' sons, Justin Dennison, 28, and Stanley Dennison, 30, said they were determined to retrieve their mother's body - with or without permission from the city - for a proper burial. "I don't want the car. I want her," said Haskins' younger brother, James Makie, 39, earlier Tuesday. At first, the city turned down a recovery effort by a diver who had entered the quarry to take a measurement of the water's depth where the vehicle went through the ice. Diver Greg Canders of Bangor used a line and weight to determine the depth, Stanley Dennison said. "We just want people to know his efforts. What nobody would do, he did in 20 minutes," Dennison said. Some 40 people stood at the edge of the quarry for nearly five hours in the bitter cold Tuesday while divers from Sea Ventures Inc. of Port Clyde and Art Henry's Crane Service of Thomaston conducted the recovery operation. The cost of the recovery is expected to be about $10,000, which will be paid by the family, Makie said. An accident reconstructionist has been hired as well, he said. Haskins' aunt, Nancy Beal of Rockland, said the family is looking into whether Haskins' motor vehicle insurance will cover any recovery costs. The family is also planning to have an autopsy done, which they will pay for. Divers began Tuesday's operation around 10 a.m. in 23-degree air temperature as 24 mph winds blew steady. With chain saws, the team cut a 10-foot by 10-foot opening in the ice before a diver went down. David Sinclair, a retired Maine State Police lieutenant who was commander of Troop D in Thomaston from 1989 to 1995, slipped into the icy water and found the SUV wedged in an area near where the depth gradually drops off. After a crane pulled the vehicle from the water, dive team members covered the vehicle with a tarp once it was lowered onto the top of the ice. Haskins' body was removed, and the SUV was lifted to the top of Old County Road, where a flatbed tow truck was waiting. The decision last week to leave Haskins' body until spring prompted considerable reaction in the area. "The city of Rockland and the state's trying to save a dollar," Makie said. "If that was the mayor or a city councilor, they would have been out there that day." During Tuesday's lengthy recovery, family members, friends, city officials and reporters watched from precarious spots around the quarry. More than once City Manager Tom Hall, at the scene, voiced concern about the potential for another accident. A City Council member at the scene, Brian Harden, said the state needs to begin looking at safety issues around the quarry. "I've lived near these quarries all my life, and I've always thought they should be filled," he said. Hall said he had received a voice mail message Tuesday morning from Damariscotta lawyer Edward Dardis, who informed Hall of the intended recovery. Dardis represents Haskins' family. When Hall attempted to contact Dardis, he was in court. Hall said he gave permission for access to the quarry at 3 p.m. Monday, but that "I was absolutely clear that I didn't have the authority" to authorize a recovery, he said. "The city isn't actively involved or condoning ... the operation here," Hall said later Tuesday. After the recovery, Hall said he was "pleased the family has closure." Burpee Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home was at the scene. A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday. The family plans a motorcade from the funeral home, past the spot where Haskins' vehicle rolled over the barrier wall. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY GABOR DEGRE

[Popman]

Would you dive 105 feet down in ice covered murky waters, even if you were qualified?

I don't think I would.

[MEG33]

I completely understand the son..I also understand that it would be a shame to lose lives while trying to get her body out..
My condolences for the son.

[PeterPrinciple]

"Dennison, 28, of Rockland has had his own encounter with another one of the city's quarries in September 2002.

He said he lost control of his pickup truck on a rainy night and found himself skidding over the edge.

Unlike his mother, he said, he was able to jump free of his vehicle and land in the quarry. He suffered a broken hip and cracked ribs. He was cited by city police for driving to endanger, sentenced to two weeks in jail and ordered to pay the cost of his rescue. "

---

I feel for this guy but it seem to be a family thing about quarries. I think there is some responsibility on their part.

I agree also that risking more lives is not prudent but it must be tough to look out the window and see the spot where Mom is all winter.

[Sunshine Sister]

City manager Tom Hall doesn't want to be left holding a bill for the recovery...............what if it was his Mom?

[G.Mason]

Heart warming tale.

Gosh ... I wonder what color that state is?

"Dennison, 28, of Rockland has had his own encounter with another one of the city's quarries in September 2002."

" He said he lost control of his pickup truck on a rainy night and found himself skidding over the edge."

" Unlike his mother, he said, he was able to jump free of his vehicle and land in the quarry. He suffered a broken hip and cracked ribs. He was cited by city police for driving to endanger, sentenced to two weeks in jail and ordered to pay the cost of his rescue. "

That'll teach him.

Now about mom ...

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

...why is debris scattered in the road?

The article said that she slid on the ice and the truck rolled.

[JFK_Lib]

Man, it sounds like the city is so worried about getting sued for another accident injuring someone while recovering the body that they are acting fairly inhumane toward the family of the victim.

We really do need tort reform, so bad.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

I think there is some responsibility on their part.

I'm curious. Why are they partially responsible?

[G.Mason]

Maybe Dennison needs to call this guy?

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/1313688.shtml

[1FASTGLOCK45]

ClearCase_guy wrote:
Dennison said he saw items in the road that he knew came from his mother's truck.

What am I missing? If the car skidded off the road, went over a cliff, into a quarry, and sank in 105 feet of water -- why is debris scattered in the road?

* I guess you've never been in, or witnessed a bad accident before.. You'll be amazed at what can happen when a vehicle is moving out of control.

[Ready4Freddy]

Coulda rolled into the quarry on rubber.

[Kirkwood]

"A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday. The family plans a motorcade from the funeral home, past the spot where Haskins' vehicle rolled over the barrier wall. "

Tempting fate? I'm not sure this is a good idea.

[af_vet_1981]

Thankfully no one died trying to recover the woman's dead body.