© 2026. The Trustees of Indiana University
Copyright Complaints
1229 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
News, Arts and Culture from WFIU Public Radio and WTIU Public Television
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bedford teenager drowns in Empire Quarry

A close-up photograph of Bedford teenager Justin Flynn, dressed in camouflage.
The Flynn Family
/
The Flynn Family

The family of Justin Flynn, 18, is asking for help after his drowning at Empire Quarry north of Oolitic last Monday.

Officers were dispatched to the quarry just after 3 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a person going underwater and not resurfacing, according to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department. The incident occurred at the old Empire Quarry site near the intersection of Kentucky Hollow and Old 37 North.

Two teenagers were with Flynn at the time, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. They were found safe on shore. Divers used sonar equipment to locate Flynn’s body, which was recovered shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Flynn enjoyed outdoor activities and dreamed of becoming a police officer.

His family has set up a GoFundMe page for financial assistance due to funeral expenses.

Empire Quarry is the quarry used in the completion of the Empire State Building in New York.

Tags
Donnie Burgess is a multimedia journalist covering local government for Indiana Public Media. He has previously worked as a news anchor and reporter for WIBC 93.1-FM and Network Indiana. He graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a degree in Communication.