Sefton Ipock Anderson Independent-Mail Rescue workers search for a 21-year-old Anderson University student who likely drowned Saturday in Broadway Lake.

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Student drowns in Broadway Lake

By Heidi Cenac
Anderson Independent-Mail
August 26, 2006

Rescue workers searched Broadway Lake well into Saturday evening for an Anderson University student who fell off an inner tube that afternoon.

Mallory Jones, a 21-year-old kinesiology student, was on the lake with three friends when she fell from the inner tube at about 3:15 p.m. Two friends were on the boat pulling the tube while a third rode a personal watercraft, said Taylor Jones, interim director of Anderson County Emergency Services.

Friends described Miss Jones as an excellent swimmer, Deputy Coroner Don McCown said.

Saturday’s search quickly centered near Jerry Vaughn’s home at 401 McFalls Circle.

He spotted a young man looking for the girl himself before authorities arrived. The boy emerged from the water upset and crying, Mr. Vaughn said.

The search is in recovery mode, using all available resources. Officials had not located the young woman’s body by 9 p.m. and will resume their search at 9:30 a.m. today, Mr. Jones said.

About 50 rescue workers participated in the water search Saturday. Another 30 support staff were on the scene as well. Rescue workers came from several agencies, including the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Anderson County Emergency Services, Greenville County Emergency Services, Abbeville County Emergency Services, MedShore, and Anderson County and city fire departments.

After interviewing others on the boat, rescue workers started an extensive dive search based on her last seen points, Mr. Jones said. The city’s technical rescue squad made a human chain across the shallow cove while dive team members continued to run patterns in the area.

Anderson University had pastoral staff at the scene with Miss Jones’ friends, Mr. Ray said. He said the university would have counseling available for both friends and family who were coming from Washington, D.C.

"When something as devastating as this happens, we’ll bring together all of our considerable resources for counseling," he said. "We’re first and foremost a Christian university. We have a very close, a very caring community. There will be a lot of people to help."

The incident is the second time in about a year Anderson University has lost a student, university President Evans Whitaker said. Laura Leigh Tye, an 18-year-old freshman, was killed in an automobile accident on Interstate 26 in November.
"It’s just devastating to students when this happens," Mr. Whitaker said.

The university is planning a gathering Sunday afternoon in the Hunt Chapel so students can pray and grieve, Mr. Whitaker said. A time will be posted on www.ac.edu, the university’s Web site.

"I know some of that’s probably already taking place," Mr. Whitaker said. "Sometimes that’s the best thing you can do."

Heidi Cenac can be reached at (800) 859-6397, Ext. 324, or by e-mail at
href="mailto:cenache@IndependentMail.com">cenache@IndependentMail.com..