PHOTO BY PATTY MCFERREN-BLANTON, 13 JUN 2012

ACCIDENTAL DROWNING OF MOTHER & TWO CHILDREN IN POND AT MIDDLEFORK, ROSMAN, TRANSYLVANIA CO., NC

This is a tragic story about the loss of Patricia Bigger and her two babies in the 3rd Pond belonging to Mr. & Mrs. William Dinkins, NC Hwy 178, Middlefork, Rosman, NC. Reportedly, the father (who had been feeling ill) drove the family car into the pond after allegedly passing out. His wife and two children drowned. He survived, but was dazed when he was found wandering along the roadside. The mother and two children perished. The husband was so distraught, he later took his own life rather than live without them. We believe the children's grandparents in Easley, SC built this beautiful roadside cross memorial.

JR & Patty Blanton (neighbors in the house with the white picket fence next to the ponds) have volunteered to weed the plot, in memory of this family.

We send our deepest condolences to the grandparents in SC and Indiana for the loss of this beloved family. We will never know why this happened--but we know they are safe in the arms of Jesus, where there are no more accidents nor tears. Rest in peace, little Bigger family.

THE BLANTON, Patty & JR
MIDDLEFORK2846@GMAILCOM

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NEWS REPORT:

WEBSOURCE: http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090407/news/904079962?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar
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Report: No drugs found in drowning victim. Times-News.
Published: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A toxicology report released Monday on a South Carolina woman who died as a result of a car crash into a Rosman lake showed she had no illegal drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death.

Patricia Bigger, 29, and her two children, Caroline, 7 and Anthony, 4, were trapped in a 1999 Plymouth van her husband was driving in January when it plunged into a pond about 2 and a half miles from Rosman, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Patricia's husband, Brent, went to Pickens Highway after the accident and flagged down drivers for help.

Officers found Brent, 33, holding a teddy bear inside his truck in February at a friend's house in Anderson County, where he had been staying since the accident. Brent Bigger had taken a large quantity of medication and run a hose from the exhaust through the window of the vehicle, according to police.

The drug atropine and caffeine were found present in Patricia Bigger's body, according to the toxicology report.

Because Patricia's death was due to drowning, the medical examiners office in Chapel Hill also ran tests for cocaine, ethanol (alcohol), opiates, other organic bases and oxymorphone, according to Dr. Ruth Winecker.

Winecker said the other tests are routine parts of toxicology tests.

The atropine found in Patricia's body was likely part of the resuscitation efforts by rescue workers.

Winecker said it is common to find atropine in the body during toxicology tests.