Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 7, 1995                   TAG: 9502070069
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

DEPUTY FALLS THROUGH ICE AT POND

Deputy Jerry Turpin and Sgt. Charlie Thornton were answering a trouble alarm at Tetra at 3001 Commerce St. in the Blacksburg Industrial Park.

The deputies had parked in front of the building waiting for the business' representative to arrive. As deputies began to follow the representative to the loading docks, Turpin walked out over a decorative pond that was frozen over and topped with snow. The ice gave way and Turpin fell face forward, striking his head on the ice. The fall momentarily disoriented Turpin, said Lt. Tommy Whitt.

The pond was 31/2-5 feet deep and the weather was 15 degrees with winds of up to 40 mph, Whitt said.

"Good ole Charlie goes out and grabs him," pulling him out of the icy water and into the patrol cruiser, Whitt said.

"If Charlie had not been there, Jerry surely would have perished," Whitt said.

Turpin was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital where he was treated for exposure and a bump on the head.

Whitt said he knew of no requirements that ponds be marked.

"But I understand they got a rope around it today," he said.