Davison Index

Flint man drowns in Holloway Reservoir




RICHFIELD TWP. — The body of a Flint man was recovered from Holloway Reservoir around midnight, Jan. 30.

Genesee County Chief Park Ranger David Dwyre said the deceased has been identified as Tony Bigelow, 59 of Flint.

Dwyre said the cause of death is being called an accidental drowning. He said Bigelow was last known to be alive around 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.

At about 5:20 p.m. that evening, a park patron observed a body in the water at the Holloway Dam, 20 feet below the catwalk.

The dam is located near N. Oak Road and E. Mount Morris Road in Richfield Township.

Due to rushing water the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department dive team was requested. In all, Dwyre said five dive teams showed up to assist from Genesee, Oakland, St. Clair, Lapeer and Saginaw counties.

Divers required the use of the Oakland County team’s hovercraft to recover the body at about midnight, he said.

“Cold weather did make recovery of the body more difficult,” said Dwyre. “Based on the scene investigation, the deceased walked along the frozen ice on Holloway Reservoir and fell through the ice somewhere near the dam.”

According to information on the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department website all divers and support personnel are safe as temperatures dropped below zero degrees during their efforts.