Dayton Teen Dies in Fall

DAYTON - Cody Snider, 17, of Dayton, was found dead Saturday morning by a Columbia County employee near the Rock Hill Transfer Station here. The discovery was made shortly before 10 a.m., when the employee ar- rived to open the station.

According to a press release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Snider had apparently fallen approximately 150 feet from the top of the cliff above the transfer station. It was unknown when he fell, since the transfer station had been closed since Thursday after- noon.

Sheriff's deputies and Columbia County Fire District 3 rope rescue personnel made a thorough examina- tion of the scene, including the sheer cliff above the location where the body was found. The release said that the investigation is continu- ing, but officials have ruled out the possibility of foul play.

Columbia County Deputy Coroner June Riley said that it is unknown at this time whether an autopsy will be conducted. She also said a toxicology test will likely be done, but results won't be known for some time.

Riley said the incident was most likely an accident, though suicide has not been ruled out. She said inves- tigators reported that the terrain at the top of the cliff was extremely slippery on Saturday.

Snider was enrolled at Dayton High School as a junior.