LOGGING MISHAP CAUSES DEATH OF MOUNDS MAN

McCLURE, Ill. - A 59-year-old Alexander County, Ill. man, drowned Saturday morning when the logging vehicle he was operating slipped off a low-water bridge into Devil's Chute, located between Devil's Island and McClure, Ill.

The chute separates the island from the Mississippi River and the East Cape-McClure levee.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Carpenter identified the victim as Wiley E. Robinson of Mounds, Ill.

Robinson was flown by Lifebeat medical helicopter to Southeast Missouri Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the coroner at 11:07 a.m. The accident occurred at about 10 a.m.

Carpenter said Robinson and his son-in-law, David Copeland, and grandson, Larry Brooks, both of Wickliffe, Ky., were conducting logging operations on Devil's Island when the accident occurred.

Robinson owned and operated the logging company.

"They had been doing some logging Saturday morning," the coroner said, "and were in the process of taking some of their equipment over the low water bridge. Mr. Robinson was operating a log skidder at the time. It appears one of the wheels slipped off the edge of the bridge that was partially covered with water, causing the skidder to tip over in about 15 to 20 feet of water."

Carpenter said Robinson came to the surface, where his son-in-law and grandson attempted to rescue him. They could not do so because of his large size and his water soaked clothing and boots.

"Mr. Robinson saw what was coming and his last words to them were to leave him alone and get back to the shore," Carpenter said. "They just barely made it back safely themselves."

The unconscious Robinson was pulled from the water a short time later and CPR was started, but he died a short time later at the hospital.

Because Robinson was pronounced dead at the Cape Girardeau hospital, it is a Missouri coroner's case, Carpenter explained.