Crash Survivor Kills Self-Liberty,SC---Family Died in Crash

[nanabillie]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990220092http://www.citizen-times.com/graphics/mastlogo.gif

February 20, 2009

Crash survivor kills self

Gannett News ServiceThe man who drove his van into a frigid Transylvania County pond last month, killing his wife and two children, committed suicide while surrounded by family photos, according to a county coroner.
Brent Bigger, 33, of Liberty, S.C., was found in a rented car parked at a friend's home on Linmar Circle, said Charlie Boseman, an Anderson County deputy coroner. The death was ruled a suicide, he said.

A vacuum hose was found attached to the tailpipe of the car Bigger had driven since his family was killed, Boseman said. Bigger may have died up to 12 hours before he was found Thursday night, he said.

Bigger was found in the passenger's side of his rental vehicle and was surrounded by family photos and personal items, Boseman said.

“He had a lot of personal turmoil,” Boseman said.

Bigger was driving on a straight, flat section of U.S. 178 near Rosman on the night of Jan. 9 when he veered off the road and plunged into a pond.

He escaped from the sinking van, but his wife, Patricia Bigger, 29, and two children, Caroline Bigger, 7, and Anthony Bigger, 4, did not. The family was returning home after a trip to the mountains.

The N.C. Highway Patrol plans to release findings from its investigation this morning, Sgt. Pat Staggs said. He declined additional comment.

Bigger's pastor, the Rev. Terry Going of Easley Bible Methodist Church, said last month that Patricia Bigger told him her husband had been having a metabolic problem, possibly related to blood sugar, and experienced lightheadedness. Going said Bigger told him he had a headache the night of the wreck and blacked out.Bigger had since been staying with friends, Boseman said.
(not sure this is where the story goes)
http://gpaper108.112.2o7.net/b/ss/gpaper108,gntbcstglobal/1/H.3-pdv-2/s54875579592820?[AQB]&ndh=1&t=22/1/2009%2023%3A18%3A20%200%20300&g=http%3A//www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20090220/NEWS01/90220092%26template%3Dprintart&cc=USD&server=publicus&events=event3&v1=Asheville%3Acitizen-times&v5=local_news&c6=news&c7=local_news&c16=article&c23=http%3A//www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20090220/NEWS01/90220092%26template%3Dprintart&c25=Asheville%3Acitizen-times&c29=1&c38=false&c48=no%20segment&c50=Newspaper&pid=CT%20-%20Crash%20survivor%20kills%20self%20%2820090220%2 9&pidt=1&oid=javascript%3ANewWindow%28600%2C800%2C%27http%3 A//www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20090220/NEWS0&ot=A&oi=312&s=1024x768&c=32&j=1.3&v=Y&k=Y&bw=804&bh=604&ct=lan&hp=N&[AQE]

[annalyzer]

May he be at peace now and reunited with his family. :1222423:

[PatC]

I can only imagine the pain he's been in for almost two months now. Such a tragedy all around, and he was only 33... my heart goes out to his parents as well.

:1222423:

[emmeblu]

Oh my, I missed this back when it was posted. What a beautiful family and a terrible, tragic lost for both sets of parents. I just cannot imagine.

:1222423:RIP

[Alibar]

So tragic from all directions. May he now be at peace.

[nanabillie]

There were some other articles if they are still on line that are interesting.

[nanabillie]

http://www.wyff4.com/news/18451500/detail.htmlMother, 2 Children Die After Pond Rescue

Car Crashed On Pickens Highway Near Red Lion Inn

POSTED: 11:22 pm EST January 9, 2009
UPDATED: 10:20 pm EST January 10, 2009
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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Officials said the two children and their mother who were rushed to a hospital Friday night after the car they were riding in crashed into a pond have died from their injuries.
The crash happened on Pickens Highway near the Red Lion Inn and Restaurant at about 8:30 p.m. in Brevard.
Rescuers were able to free the trapped victims. All three were flown to Greenville Memorial Hospital.
One of the victims, a 4-year-old, was suffering from hypothermia and was in cardiac arrest at the time.
All three were pronounced dead a short time later.

[texanne]

I can understand the tortured guilt he felt, and can honestly say I might have considered the same thing. This reminds me of the movie "Seven Pounds" with Will Smith. I watched it a few days back and it was such a sad downer.

[nanabillie]

http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/funeral_planned_for_mother_son
Funeral Planned for Mother Son and Daughter


(http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/funeral_planned_for_mother_son_and_daughter/13279)

Video (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/funeral_planned_for_mother_son_and_daughter/13279#fragment-1)
(http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/funeral_planned_for_mother_son_and_daughter/13279)Photo (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/funeral_planned_for_mother_son_and_daughter/13279#fragment-2)


Elizabeth OwensPublished: January 12, 2009

Funeral arrangements are set for a mother, daughter and son who died in a wreck on Friday.
29 year old Patricia Bigger, 7 year old Caroline Bigger and 4 year old Anthony Bigger will be buried in Terre Haute, Indiana on Thursday. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 to 7pm at Park Street Baptist Church, 114 Robinson Avenue in Easley where services will be at 7pm with Reverend Terry Going officiating.
Master Trooper W.R. Stinson of the North Carolina Highway Patrol says that 29-year old Patricia Bigger, of Liberty, and her two children, 7-year old Caroline and 4-year old Anthony died at different hospitals following the accident. Stinson says that a 1999 Plymouth van driven by Brent Bigger, the husband and father, went off Pickens Highway, just south of Rosman, and into a pond. Bigger made his way to the road where he managed to flag down help.
Stinson says that authorities responded to the scene within minutes of the initial call and that rescue crews managed to get Patricia Bigger and the two children out of the car and water. The mother and children were in full cardiac arrest before they were transported to different hospitals. The two children later died at Greenville Memorial Hospital, while the mother died at Transylvania Hospital.
Linda Cater knew her neighbors only through passing but is heartbroken for Brent Bigger. “I can’t imagine what he is going through,” she said. “God bless you and help you,” Cater said.
Cater say Caroline and Anthony would play outside all the time. “Everyday their daddy would come home and they would run out there and get his lunch bag and take it into the house,” she remembered.

Highway Patrol says that they are still trying to “piece together what happened,“ and that state and federal authorities have been called in to assist with the investigation.

Several members of the dive team were also treated due to hypothermia.
Memorials may be made to: Shaohannah’s Hope, P.O. Box 647, Franklin, TN 37065.


(http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/funeral_planned_for_mother_son_and_daughter/13279)

[nanabillie]

http://www.wyff4.com/news/18465691/detail.html
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TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C -- A collision reconstruction team was at the scene of a wreck on Tuesday that took the lives of a mother and her two children when their minivan went into a pond four days ago.
On Friday evening, the minivan driven by Brent Bigger, of Liberty, left U.S. Highway 178 in Transylvania County and plunged into the pond. The pond is just south of Rosman near the Red Lion Inn.
Brent Bigger was uninjured and got out of the vehicle. His wife, 29-year-old Patricia, and their two children, Caroline, 7, and Anthony, 4, did not.
The Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the wreck.
"Our goal is to find out exactly what happened on that night," said Highway Patrol Sgt. Pat Staggs.
"Hopefully, once all the investigators and everybody comes together, then we can have some answers," Staggs said.
The accident happened at about 8:30 p.m. Friday on a straight section of Highway 178. The minivan took on water after it went into the pond.
"It was completely submerged except the very back section," said Staggs.
http://images.ibsys.com/2009/0112/18463806_240X180.jpg Troopers say rescue workers found Patricia Bigger in the front passenger seat. Caroline was found belted into the back seat. Anthony was also in the back seat in his car seat.
Investigators said they hope they're close to finding an answer as to how the young mother and two children died.
"We're hoping we're going to have enough information where we can get together and make a decision on where we go from there," said Staggs.
Troopers say that decision will determine if any charges will be filed.
Also later this week, they expect to get the autopsy results back on the mother and the two children.
Funeral Services Planned

Funeral services for Patricia Bigger and her children were Tuesday at Park Street Baptist Church in Easley. A memorial service followed.
Burial service will be in Terre Haute, Ind., where Brent Bigger's family lives.

Previous Stories:

January 12, 2009: Man Survives Pond Crash; Wife, Children Die (http://www.wyff4.com/news/18458588/detail.html)
January 10, 2009: Mother, 2 Children Die After Pond Rescue (http://www.wyff4.com/news/18451500/detail.html)



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