Toledo-area man believed drowned in Erie Township lake

7/26/2014
BLADE STAFF
First-responders gather near a private lake in Monroe County's Erie Township where a man is believed to have drowned.
First-responders gather near a private lake in Monroe County's Erie Township where a man is believed to have drowned.

ERIE, Mich. -- A 34-year-old man from the Toledo area is believed to have drowned Saturday evening in a private lake in Monroe County‘‍s Erie Township.

At about 8 p.m., a 28-year-old Toledo-area woman was operating a personal watercraft on the lake off of Sterns Road, between Suder Road and South Dixie Highway, and the man was riding as a passenger, according to the Monroe County sheriff’‍s office.

The man, who was not wearing a personal flotation device, fell off the watercraft and disappeared under the water, the sheriff‘‍s office reported.

The Monroe County Dive Team, Monroe County Aviation Unit, Washington Township Fire Department, and Morin Point Fire Department searched from about 8:15 p.m. until about 1:30 a.m. A helicopter circled the farm, shining a spotlight on the rescue work for part of that time.

The search is to resume at 7 a.m. today.

The sheriff’‍s office said it is not releasing names, pending positive identification and notification of kin.