A Warren County man drowned Tuesday at City Front after his truck rolled into the flood-swollen Yazoo Diversion Canal, pulling him with it.

Arthur Green, 79, 596 Hall Road, was pronounced dead at the scene after Vicksburg Fire Department divers recovered his body, Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said.

The brakes on Green’s Mitsubishi truck apparently failed as he was attempting to leave City Front after spending time watching the scenery at the canal, Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“It seems like it was an accident. The eyewitness works for the city,” Armstrong said. “The gentleman did have a conversation with him before he went under. He said the brakes went out.”

The truck was in reverse when it was pulled from the water, Armstrong said.

The city employee saw Green clinging to the truck in the water and attempted to direct him back to shore, but Green refused to let go, Armstrong said.

“He was hanging on to the truck for a period of time before the truck went under water,” Armstrong said. “From all indication he was afraid to let go of the truck and presumably could not swim.”

Warren County Sherriff Martin Pace said deputies on two patrol boats participated in the search for Green.

“We had our small patrol boat in the water within minutes of the call. The larger boat that is sonar-equipped was just shortly behind that,” Pace said.

Deputies were able to get coordinates of approximately where the truck went down and searched in a grid pattern for about an hour before locating the truck via sonar submerged in about 25 feet of water. Vicksburg Fire Department divers then searched the area and were able to find Green’s body inside the vehicle.

“Those guys work wonders. That is a very talented very well equipped group of divers,” Pace said.

Green’s wife and daughters told Armstrong that he would visit the park regularly and watch the boaters.

“They were understandably upset, we’ll meet with them again later on, but they did let it be known this is a place he frequented,” Armstrong said.

City Front was also one of Green’s favorite areas to visit, family members told police.

“Apparently this was one of his favorite stops,” Armstrong said. “He was doing what he normally would do, come out to the park and enjoy himself while looking at the water and watching the boaters put their boats in and retrieve their boats from the water. Unfortunately, in maneuvering his vehicle somehow he wound up in the water.”

 

Post staff writer Alana Norris contributed to this report.