Crews found the body of Brandon Closure Thursday afternoon, the good samaritan who fell through an open manhole during Tuesday evening’s flash flood. The Onondaga County Medical Examiner has confirmed his identity. Closure was trying to help a stranded motorist in nearly waist-high water on East Fayette street. Mayor Stephanie Miner says dozens of city and county sewer workers searched for Closure after he was reported missing.
“The county workers were walking the sewer system in an effort to see if there was a body in there. When the county sewer department found the body they called us and then the fire department came into extract the body.”
Closure's body was found under the intersection of Erie Boulevard West and Franklin Street. It’s been a draining and emotional 36-hours or so for city DPW, fire, police and county water and sewer workers. A reporter asked a clearly distraught DPW commissioner Pete O’Connor about the toll it’s taken on his crew.
Miner thanked all who were involved in the difficult search. She reminded residents not to enter standing water during a flood. On Tuesday night, the high volume of rain overwhelmed the sewer system, popping off the sewer lid. Closure didn’t see the open manhole as he helped the motorist.