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November 7, 2009

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Second Victim in Spoon River Drownings Identified

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The Mackinaw River, rising Friday under a viaduct.

By WEEK Producer

Story Published: May 19, 2009 at 11:39 AM CST

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2009 at 12:12 PM CST

Fulton county sheriff's police have positively identified another victim who drown this weekend in the Spoon River.

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Police say the driver of the vehicle found yesterday in the water south of County Highway–20 was that of 45–year old John A. Myers.
Myers lived in Avon.

His car was swept away by flood waters on the Indian Forge Bridge Saturday evening.

Dive teams and rescue crews spent much of the weekend searching for Myers and another women who drowned in her car in a separate incident Saturday morning.

The body of Susan Hogue was found Sunday afternoon in her car downstream from Route–39 near London Mills.

View Oldest Comments First

Friday, Aug 28 at 12:53 PM hunter heap wrote ...

John Myers was my soon to be step father. I am very upset that he is gone. All his friends and family will never for get him. h_heap2011@yahoo.com

Thursday, May 21 at 4:13 PM barricaes wrote ...

Yeah it only took two deaths in the area before the local pigs did anything

Thursday, May 21 at 9:45 AM flooded bridge wrote ...

I am sorry shocked friend for your loss. The bridge was flooded along with much of the road surrounding it. I had just been there probably not long after he drove into the water. I didn't know that at the time but we met rescue crews on the road coming to locate him. As I understand it the call came in late in the afternoon. There were barricades up in front of Indian Forge Bridge at that time.

Wednesday, May 20 at 3:50 PM if you would of been there wrote ...

there'd be another foolish victum drowned.

Wednesday, May 20 at 9:44 AM so sorry wrote ...

MY HEART GOES OUT TO BOTH FAMILYS AND FRIENDS OF BOTH MOTHER NATURES CAUSED IT AND GOD TOOK THEM BOTH HOME WITH HIM I PRAY FOR THE FAMILYS I HOPE SOMEDAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND PEACE IN IT ALL

Wednesday, May 20 at 7:39 AM if i would have been there wrote ...

nobody would have been standin around cuz i would have made them work i would have jumped in to save her if i were there its one of those things where i think im superman i think i could have helped her im so sorry that i wasnt there when she needed me the most iv lost sleep knowingg that there isnt anyone out there brave enough to help someone out yes im a lil dangerous but i get the job done

Wednesday, May 20 at 12:18 AM johnt9972 wrote ...

I lost my son in a car accident. He was only 19 years old & I was devastated. I can honestly relate to how the families are feeling. I would like to offer my condolences to the families & friends of the victims in both accidents.

Tuesday, May 19 at 10:21 PM Tammy wrote ...

because they were obviously too busy watching people not helping her.

Tuesday, May 19 at 10:16 PM family wrote ...

Maybe when families raise people they teach them common sense. Common sense = survival. Ignorance= car in river.

Tuesday, May 19 at 9:46 PM Tragedy That Could've Been Avoided wrote ...

sick of these terrible comments, So you would rather just label this as an unavoidable accident and allow it to happen again than to be proactive and to prevent it from happening the next time. I can't see any logic in that train of thought. Maybe I'm just crazy too. And, for the record, I knew Sue, and I don't want to see this happen to another person. And one other thing, the family agrees with me.

Tuesday, May 19 at 9:42 PM Shocked Friend wrote ...

John Myers was a kind and caring man who looked out for my family. I'm tired of reading that these victims were negligent or stupid, when John crossed the bridge there was very little water on it, the levees broke after he crossed and the water pushed him into the raging river, he could not swim and though he called 911 no one could get to him. I cannot imagine what he suffered and my heart breaks for his kids- we should all be holding our families a little tighter and being thankful for life.

Tuesday, May 19 at 9:37 PM TAMMY STEVENS wrote ...

If you people where standing there watching the cops stand there why didn't one of you jump in and help

Tuesday, May 19 at 9:20 PM sick of these terrible comments wrote ...

Do you people have nothing better to do than blame people these are truely devasting accidents and the families should be in your thoughts and prayers not who can blame who! My thoughts and prayers are with both families

Tuesday, May 19 at 8:52 PM Tragedy That Could've Been Avoided wrote ...

How hard is it to place barricades on a road that is notorious for flooding? You cannot always assume that the motorists are from around here and know the situation. Fulton/Knox Counties should be ashamed of themselves right now! And, a sign that warns of flooding after you are already in the water doesn't really do much good.

Tuesday, May 19 at 8:10 PM Oh right Im suppose to believe that wrote ...

If the cops & rescue teams were really as heroicas you dellusionally think they are then they wouldnt of bickered on whom was to save her. They could of worked with each other,cooperate & use what little training they evidently got instead of trying to pass on the responsability on to one another. The family really should sue & these people should lose their jobs. Must of been a sight seeing what are suppose to be heroes standing around pointing the finger at each other. For shame.

Tuesday, May 19 at 7:42 PM the real reason she drowned... wrote ...

was an accident....

Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 PM PK wrote ...

Do you want to know the real reason for Susan's drowning,check with those who are supposed to rescue.Fulton Co.and Knox Co.rescue squads argued as to whom was going to rescue since none of those officers are completely certified or were afraid to enter the water.AS SUSAN HERSELF, CALLED FROM HER CAR FOR HELP.And FINALLY PEORIA took the call on Sunday.It is rather interesting that WHEN A PERSON IS DROWNING NO ONE WANTS TO RESCUE IN THE COUNTIES INVOLVED.YES THERE SCHOULD BE A GIANT LAWSUIT.

Tuesday, May 19 at 4:56 PM T. Sheff wrote ...

Road block it's NOT all the police fault this happened these people know what these roads get like when we have the amount of rain fall that we have had, seriously I have talked to several police officers who done the best they could and before you go making accusations as you did you need to walk a mile in there shoes, they don't just sit on there rears and stuff there faces with pastries and coffee. Thoughts and prayers are with all families affected by these tragedies.

Tuesday, May 19 at 2:13 PM Me wrote ...

This is awful! My heart goes out to these families.

Tuesday, May 19 at 2:09 PM grow a heart wrote ...

Must you idiots comment. If you don't have anything nice to say don't say nothing at all. It's that simple. Jamie

Tuesday, May 19 at 1:58 PM road blocks wrote ...

Another senseless death due to lack of education & cops plus road commissioners that love nothing more but sit on their rears stuffing their faces with pastries & coffee.

Tuesday, May 19 at 1:38 PM Jamie wrote ...

Im am so sorry to both families for their loss.

Tuesday, May 19 at 1:17 PM H.Heap wrote ...

John Myers was my soon to be step father. I am very upset that he is gone. All his friends and family will never for get him. h_heap2011@yahoo.com

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