Son tried to save father in ATV accident that killed both

FARMINGTON — A son tried to save his father from falling off a cliff before they both plunged to their deaths after riding ATVs in an abandoned quarry Wednesday night.

Police identified the victims as Steven Price, 71, of the Forestville section of Bristol, and Mark Price, 30, of Plainville.

The accident happened at about 8 p.m. at the old Tilcon quarry off Colt Highway. The father and son had been riding ATVs, but were off the vehicles and standing at the edge of an approximately 75-foot-high cliff when they fell to their deaths, police said.

Athird ATV rider called 911 and said his friend, the younger Price, was trying to save his father from falling, according to audio of the call released by police.

“His dad went to look at something, tripped and his son went to grab him and they both fell,” the witness said.

“They’re not breathing,” the caller said, according to the tape.

The Prices were both employees of Siracusa Moving & Storage, as was the 911 caller, Dan Siracusa,

president of the New Britain-based company, said.

“Everybody here is very, very said,” Siracusa said. “These were wonderful, wonderful people.”

Steven Price officially had retired, but still did odd jobs for the company, he said. Mark Price was a driver, and the man who called 911 was his best friend, Siracusa said.

“He’s an absolute wreck right now,” he said of the man who witnessed the accident. “He said it was horrifying watching what happened.”

Police believe the caller and the Prices all were riding separate ATVS, police spokesman Lt. Timothy S. McKenzie said. The caller, who is not a Farmington resident, was familiar with the area, while the father and son were not, McKenzie said.

The quarry is closed to the public and no one was supposed to be riding there.

Town Manager Kathleen Blonski said in an email that the quarry property is still owned by Tilcon. A portion of the property, immediately adjacent to Colt Highway, is still used to store and sell materials, but the quarry itself has been dormant since the 1980s, Blonski said.

McKenzie said police occasionally have fielded 911 calls about quarry trespassers, including dirt bike riders, but he said he could not recall the last time police were called to the site. The front entrance is blocked with gates and a Jersey barrier, McKenzie said, but he was not sure if barriers continue into the woods at the back of the quarry.

The man who called 911 had to escort officers and firefighters to the accident location due to the challenging terrain, police said. The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Mark Price was the single father of a 3-year-old daughter, whom he adored, Siracusa said. Steven Price had just received a clean bill of health after losing about 50 pounds due to cancer treatment, he said. The older Price also had lost a son about two years ago in a motorcycle accident, Siracusa said.

“You don’t meet a nicer person,” he said. “We are shocked and devastated.”

While the incident appears accidental, detectives are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Stephen Egan at 860-675-2414.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@ courant.com.