Deceased Man Recovered In Submerged Vehicle, C&D Canal

Location:

·         Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal), Middletown, DE

Date of Occurrence:   

·         Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 2:45 p.m.

Victim:

·         Unidentified 62 year old male

Resume:   

Middletown-The Delaware State Police continue an investigation into a deceased man found inside a completely submerged vehicle in the C&D Canal approximately 1.0 mile east of the Maryland line Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, June 25, 2011 at approximately 2:45 p.m. Troopers responded to the banks of the C&D Canal in the area of Chesapeake City Road and Frazer Road, Middletown, after several witnesses observed an occupied vehicle described as a silver SUV, travel from the canal banks, directly into the canal and become fully submerged in the water.

The Delaware State Police SCUBA Unit assisted by Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) searched the water for the vehicle and the occupant, while the Delaware State Police Aviation helicopter Trooper 4 searched by air.  

At approximately 5:00 p.m. Delaware State Police SCUBA divers were able to locate the vehicle submerged in approximately 30’ of water, approximately 100’ from the area where the vehicle was last seen entering the canal. The 62 year old male was found deceased inside the vehicle.  The body was recovered and turned over to the Delaware Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the exact cause of death.   

It is unknown at this time as to why the vehicle left the canal banks and entered the canal as the investigation continues into this incident.