Freddie Howard
July 16, 2007
Murphy Candies, Jr.
July 18, 2007
A Houma man drowned in the Intracoastal Canal Waterway under the Main Street overpass Saturday.
The Houma Police were called to the scene around 2 p.m. The officers were advised by witnesses the man, Junius Greenup, 46, of 8404 Main St., had jumped into the water, came up gasping for air, then went back under, not to be seen again.
Witnesses informed the officers Greenup approached the water and told bystanders he wanted to go swimming and see what the water was like. Greenup then took off his shirt, pants and shoes and hopped into the water.
The fall into the water would have been short, no more than 8 feet or so, authorities said.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol Division and the U.S. Coast Guard were contacted, as part of the Intracoastal Canal Waterway was shut down to all boat traffic for one-fourth of a mile to the east and west of the incident location.
Greenup’s body was recovered in the middle of the waterway, about 50 yards from where the spot where he jumped, police said.
The Houma Police wished to remind all citizens it is very dangerous to swim in the Intracoastal Waterway with the frequent boat traffic and powerful currents.
