Man dies after crane falls into Smith Mountain Lake

10:11 p.m.

By Candice Nelson
WSLS Reporter
cneslon@wsls.com

Conservation police took measurements and pictures of the equipment for the investigation. Some who stayed on the scene throughout the late afternoon on Monday were still trying to comfort each other over the death of 54-year-old Roger Goad, who friends and family lovingly called “Peanut.”

He was employed by Plyler Homes and Docks. Co-owner, Derrick Plyler, spent the day making phone calls and talking with his co-workers. They say it was the first day for this project – the process of putting in a new dock that starts with removing the old pylons with a crane.

Plyler couldn't comment too much on what happened. He did say Goad worked with him since he was 15 years old and always kept safety in mind, possibly one of the most safety-minded employees he had.

Workers say the job was routine and tell WSLS that the crane that fell was the largest on the lake. Starting Tuesday, workers say a couple of cranes about half the size of the one underwater will try to pull it out.

The crane is marked in the water with a white buoy. A person who works with Goad says it's going to be a tough job to get the crane out of the water because it weighs about 20,000 pounds. They hope local companies will be able to do the job but they may have to get somebody from out of town.

Some are concerned about the oil in the water. Workers say that could be grease from the crane’s fittings and that it had about three or four gallons of diesel – almost an empty tank.

Workers tell us Goad’s son was also working on the project and tried to pull his father to safety.

________________________________________________________________________________
6:00 p.m.

From Megan Farley, in the field
WSLS Anchor
mfarley@wsls.com

A crane fall trapped and drowned a man at Smith Mountain Lake late Monday morning.

Investigators say the crane was on a barge on the Franklin County side of the lake, near channel marker B-20. That's near River Creek Road, in the Blackwater River section of the lake. (Click here for a map)

The crane fell just before noon, as Roger Dale Goad was working on replacing a dock. Investigators say the crane flipped off the barge, into water that is about 60 feet deep, and only had two to three feet of visibility.

Dive teams could not get to Goad in time. Divers pulled Goad's body from the water around 1:30 p.m.

Family members told me that Goad died doing what he loved.

For Sgt. Tim Tatum with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, this accident hit close to home. Goad was Tatum's wife's uncle.

"He (Goad) loved outdoors loved to hunt this is what he liked doing loved building loved being outside," Sgt. Tatum said. "Won't find better person. Kind hearted, do anything he could for anybody. Good humble man," Sgt. Tatum added.

Investigators estimate the crane weighed between nine and ten tons. Crews will try to remove it from the lake on Tuesday.

10 On Your Side's Candice Nelson will have an update on what's being done to remember Goad, tonight on WSLS at 11:00 p.m.

--------

3:30 p.m.

From Candice Nelson, in the field
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com

Friends of the man who died tell me his name was Roger Goad, and also known affectionately as "peanut."

Watch WSLS starting at 5:00 p.m. for on-air coverage.

-------

2:29 p.m.

From Megan Farley, in the field
WSLS Anchor
mfarley@wsls.com

The dive team has pulled the body of a man from the water.

Investigators say he was operating the crane on a barge.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will be handling the investigation.

-------

1:29 p.m.

From Megan Farley, in the field
WSLS Anchor
mfarley@wsls.com

The dive team is in the water.

So far, we have not had official confirmation about a person being in the crane when it fell.

Witnesses are still saying a person was in the crane when it fell.

More information as we get it.

Watch WSLS starting at 5:00 p.m. for on-air coverage.

Photos below by: Meagan Farley, WSLS Anchor

-------

12:22 p.m.

From Karen McNew, in the field
WSLS Anchor
kmcnew@wsls.com

Franklin County deputies tell me a crane fell over into the water near Smith Mountain Lake channel marker B-20. That's near River Creek Road. (Click here for a map)

Witnesses on the scene say a person was inside the crane when the accident happened.

Deputies have not confirmed that a person is inside, but did say that a dive team is on its way to the scene.

More information as we get it.

Watch WSLS starting at 5:00 p.m. for on-air coverage.

Photos below by: Karen McNew, WSLS Anchor