A quadriplegic man drowned in Wingra Creek Wednesday night in what appears to be a tragic accident.
According to a police release, a citizen was walking his dog in the area and called 911 to report what appeared to be a wheelchair tipped over by the creek. When officers arrived at the scene they located the victim of a drowning.
According to Madison Police Department Public Relations Officer Emily Samson, the incident remains under investigation, but it is being considered an accidental death by the Dane County Coroner’s Office.
“No foul play was indicated,” Samson said. “This is an example of a very unfortunate accident.”
Samson added that family members indicated the victim was out for a nightly ride when the accident occurred.
“It is unclear if he went down by creek or if he lost control,” Samson said. “It isn’t exactly clear how it happened.”
Samson said drownings in the Madison lakes typically involve alcohol where students tend to jump or dive into the water and become seriously injured.
“Unfortunately with the lakes around the campus right downtown, alcohol can sometimes be a big factor,” Samson said. “When we have had [drownings], alcohol has usually been the reason.”
Samson also urged students to use consideration when the lakes begin to freeze and ice forms.
“Students need to know that the winter months are upon us and that the lakes are going to start freezing over,” Samson said. “It’s important to use caution around the lakes.”
Ice can be deceiving when it comes to the thickness and the ability to hold people. She added it is also easy to get lost on the ice and fall through.
This most recent occurrence is not the only tragedy to come at the hands of the Madison chain of lakes this fall.
Philip Mumm, 24, drowned in Lake Mendota after falling out of his boat. Mumm and several friends were on a sailboat early Oct. 9 after being in downtown Madison. A passerby discovered the body of Mumm Oct. 30 off the shoreline of University Bay near the 1900 block of Willow Beach Drive.
Currently, 56-year-old Mitchell S. Pease, a boater, has been missing since Oct 28 when his boat turned up empty by Mendota County Park that day.
