Owensboro teen dies after cliff-jumping accident at Kentucky Lake

LYON COUNTY, Ky. -- An 18-year-old Owensboro resident died after a cliff-jumping accident at Kentucky Lake over the weekend, according to Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Curt Curtner.

Curtner said emergency crews recovered the body of Caleb Milem of Owensboro, at 12:57 p.m. Monday after a search that began Sunday afternoon.

According to Curtner, Milem was jumping from cliffs at the Rock Quarry area when the incident occurred. Curtner said the cliffs are approximately 50 feet above water, and people frequently jump from them during the summer months.

"He was doing flips off of (the cliffs)," Curtner said. "People jump off them all summer long over there."

Search efforts were suspended Sunday night and resumed Monday morning after additional equipment was brought in to allow crews to search deeper water, Curtner said.

"We resumed Monday morning once we had some more equipment that allowed us to go down 100 foot deep and search the bottom," Curtner said.

Milem was found about 95 feet below the surface, according to Curtner.

Based on information gathered during the investigation, Curtner said officials believe Milem was performing flips when he entered the water.

"It appears that the last time he did it, he sort of landed on his face and belly," Curtner said. "It probably knocked him unconscious and knocked the breath out of him."

Curtner said investigators do not believe Milem struck rocks beneath the water.

"Absolutely no," Curtner said. "There's no rocks in that area when you jump off."

He said the cliff face tapers outward as it descends, allowing jumpers to clear the rock wall.

Curtner said fatal incidents at the site have been relatively uncommon.

"I've been doing this 30 years, and I think we've only had four in my 30 years of doing this stuff from that rock quarry," he said.

Still, he encouraged people who visit the area to exercise caution.

"Have a life jacket, and jump feet first and don't do acrobatic flips," Curtner said. "You have to be really careful out there."

Agencies involved in the search and recovery included Marshall County Emergency Management, Marshall County Rescue Squad, Lyon County Emergency Management, McCracken County Emergency Management, McCracken County Rescue Squad, Caldwell County Emergency Management, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, TVA Police, and a Tennessee-based volunteer group known as Christian Area Ministries.

Following the recovery, Milem was turned over to the Marshall County coroner. Curtner said the body was expected to be transported to Frankfort for an autopsy, which will determine the official cause of death.

Details for funeral services are expected to be announced in the coming days.