Brazil teen dies in fall from Madison Township bridge
A Brazil teen died in a Friday morning fall from a rural Putnam County railroad bridge.
Kody Allen Snyder, 16, Brazil, was pronounced dead at the Putnam County Hospital Friday following a fall from the railroad bridge commonly known as the Big Four Arch Bridge.
Putnam County Sheriff's Department investigators said Snyder and four other males from the Brazil and Terre Haute area were at the bridge near County Road 500 West, climbing through the compartments under the rail bed.
"During the course of their exploration, Mr. Snyder apparently fell from the south side of the structure onto the creek, a fall of approximately 40 feet," Sheriff's Department Capt. Tom Helmer said.
Snyder's companions, Justin Bryant, 21, Austin Bell, 18, Benjamin Craftan, 18, and an unnamed 17-year-old, said they rushed down to the creek to help Snyder. They found him lying facedown in the water.
The young men said they attempted CPR but to no avail.
They then placed Snyder into their vehicle and attempted to locate a hospital, but they were not familiar with the area and ended up on County Road 450 West, where they awakened the occupants of a residence.
The residents called 911 at 4:21 a.m. Lt. Dwight Simmons and Deputy Mike Downing, along with the Reelsville Fire Department and Operation Life, responded to the scene.
Further CPR was in progress upon the officers' arrival. Operation Life transported him to Putnam County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:55 a.m.
Coroner Thomas Miller said Dr. Roland Kohr was set to perform an autopsy on Saturday in Terre Haute.
The investigation is ongoing by Chief of Detectives Pat McFadden, Detective Virgil Lanning and Officer Mark Stevens of the CSX Railroad Police.
Snyder recently completed his freshman year at Northview High School. He is the son of Jay S. and Jackie Neice Snyder.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Moore Funeral Home in Brazil. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.