Salem Death

An 83-year-old Salem woman, died Sunday afternoon (November 26, 2023) from injuries secondary to a fall.

This incident occurred shortly after 2:00 pm Sunday at a home on Park Avenue near Salem.  

The home, according to Oconee County property records, was built in 1920. 

The daughter of the deceased was in the process of moving from the home.  The deceased arrived at the home Sunday afternoon to visit and assist her daughter.

An area of the kitchen floor had weakened with age; the deceased stepped onto the weakened floor and fell through the floor into a well shaft, unknown to the family. 

She fell approximately 48 feet to her death; there was some water in base of the well.

The deceased is identified as, Dorothy Louise Downey, of Salem.  

Salem Fire Department and Oconee Emergency Services personnel extricated her from the well at approximately 5:45 pm.  

An autopsy was performed Monday morning on Ms. Downey; she died from blunt force injuries.  

Her manner of death is classified Accidental.