Guest drowns at Killington hotel Police say the death was accidental and may be alcohol-related

November 15, 2006

By Alan J. Keays Herald Staff

KILLINGTON — A New Hampshire woman died early Tuesday morning after she entered a closed and covered pool at the Killington Grand Hotel and drowned, according to Vermont State Police.

State Police are ruling the death of Jessica Davis, 22, of Goshen, N.H., accidental. Alcohol may have played a role, they said.

State Police Detective Sgt. Robert Patten said Davis, a hotel guest, apparently was unable to get back to the surface of the water after she swam under a heat-retaining cover that is placed over the pool at night. The outdoor pool is four feet deep.

The pool area is surrounded by a glass wall measuring about 74 inches high, with a gate that is about a foot shorter. That gate was padlocked, but Davis is believed to have gone over it to get to the pool, police and hotel officials said.

Davis' body will undergo an autopsy at the state Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington. Investigators say it may be six to eight weeks before the results of toxicology tests become available.

"Obviously, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and everybody touched by this unfortunate tragedy," Tom Horrocks, a Killington spokesman, said Tuesday afternoon.

Police said someone at the Killington Grand Hotel on Killington Road called them at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday to report a drowning. Davis was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, the detective said.

Police learned that Davis attended a party at the hotel with a friend earlier in the night and then went to another bar in the Killington area before returning to the hotel.

Horrocks said the heated pool at the Grand Hotel is open throughout the year and closes nightly at 10 p.m. That's when the cover is rolled over the pool to keep the water warm, he said.

"It floats right on top of the water," Horrocks said of the cover. "It covers the exposed water surface area."

The drowning is the first at the pool since the hotel opened in 1997. The Grand Hotel is owned and operated by Killington Ltd.

Submitted on 11/15/2006

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Rutland Herald 11-15-06

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
This tragic story sounds like yet another alcohol-related incident. While not eligible for any awards, we appreciate the submission. I'm guessing the toxicology report comes up trumps for ethanol.

James said:
Maybe Toss: Other
This is really just another alcohol-related drowning. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a tragic accident. Thanks for submitting just the same!

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I shall be contrarian here as we've rarely tossed a submission for the awardee being drunk. For that matter, some of our best (and funniest) submissions have involved intoxicants. But swimming in a pool with a cover over it is just unusual enough for me to vote to keep it,

Chip said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I agree with Jack. While alcohol was involved, it takes a high degree of determination to climb over a five foot fence to swim under a pool cover. Definitely stupid and definitely self-selected.

Shadow said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I also agree enough things happen from being drunk. But iy is the uncommon factor of the lengths this person went to. Climbing a fence, jumping into a covered pool. Not exactly a bright person even drunk.

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