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Authorities Investigate Quarry Crash That Killed 1, Injured 5
Sheriff: Truck Plunged 70 Feet Into Quarry
UPDATED: 8:19 am CDT July 6,
2007
TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD, Wis. -- Dane County sheriff's officials investigating a quarry crash Wednesday night that left one dead and five injured said that a cell phone and GPS technology helped them rescue the survivors.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDane County sheriff's officials said that the pickup truck was parked at the edge of the quarry in the Town of Springfield, where the occupants watched a fireworks display until about 10:30 p.m. They were near Highway 12 and the Parmenter Street exit.Authorities said the pickup truck driver took a wrong turn in the dark, sending him and five friends over the edge and plunging 70 feet into a Dane County quarry.The driver, Tyler Burcalow, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene. He's the son of Larry Burcalow, owner of Yahara Materials, the quarry operator.The truck landed upside down at the bottom of the quarry, WISC-TV reported.One of the survivors was able to get out of the truck and call for help. Although the cell phone battery died, dispatchers were able to pinpoint the location of the remote crash scene through GPS technology."Without the cell phone and without that young man being able to get out of the vehicle, it would have been a very unfortunate situation and probably all six would have been found this morning by employees as they arrived at work," said Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney.The vehicle's five passengers were taken by ambulance to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. One is listed in critical condition.Dane County authorities identified the passengers as Colman Y. Dockter, 22, of Middleton; Aric J. Hinrichs, 22, of Middleton; Brandy Bunnell, 22, of Madison; John C. Ogden, 21, of Cross Plains; and Uriy S. Kistanov, 20, of Madison.Officials said that Dockter is in critical condition Thursday, Hinrichs is in serious condition and Bunnell, Ogden and Kistanov are in fair condition.Mahoney said that although alcohol was found at the scene, he doesn't think it played a large role in the incident. Authorities said that they believe Burcalow might have been mistaken about his location on the property.The entrance to the quarry is blocked by a locked gate, WISC-TV reported.The sheriff said that it was fortunate for the survivors that they were riding in a full-size pickup truck and that if they were in a smaller vehicle, more of them would have likely been killed.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDane County sheriff's officials said that the pickup truck was parked at the edge of the quarry in the Town of Springfield, where the occupants watched a fireworks display until about 10:30 p.m. They were near Highway 12 and the Parmenter Street exit.Authorities said the pickup truck driver took a wrong turn in the dark, sending him and five friends over the edge and plunging 70 feet into a Dane County quarry.The driver, Tyler Burcalow, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene. He's the son of Larry Burcalow, owner of Yahara Materials, the quarry operator.The truck landed upside down at the bottom of the quarry, WISC-TV reported.One of the survivors was able to get out of the truck and call for help. Although the cell phone battery died, dispatchers were able to pinpoint the location of the remote crash scene through GPS technology."Without the cell phone and without that young man being able to get out of the vehicle, it would have been a very unfortunate situation and probably all six would have been found this morning by employees as they arrived at work," said Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney.The vehicle's five passengers were taken by ambulance to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. One is listed in critical condition.Dane County authorities identified the passengers as Colman Y. Dockter, 22, of Middleton; Aric J. Hinrichs, 22, of Middleton; Brandy Bunnell, 22, of Madison; John C. Ogden, 21, of Cross Plains; and Uriy S. Kistanov, 20, of Madison.Officials said that Dockter is in critical condition Thursday, Hinrichs is in serious condition and Bunnell, Ogden and Kistanov are in fair condition.Mahoney said that although alcohol was found at the scene, he doesn't think it played a large role in the incident. Authorities said that they believe Burcalow might have been mistaken about his location on the property.The entrance to the quarry is blocked by a locked gate, WISC-TV reported.The sheriff said that it was fortunate for the survivors that they were riding in a full-size pickup truck and that if they were in a smaller vehicle, more of them would have likely been killed.Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
