Feeds2 drown in Belleville Lake boating accident
Van Buren Township police confirmed Tuesday that two men drowned in a boating accident on Belleville Lake.
Police confirmed that Fred Lewis of Detroit, who was celebrating his 63rd birthday and William McRae, 46. Another man, 66-year-old Nathaniel Deck, durvived the tragedy.
Capt. Greg Laurain of the Van Buren Police Township Police Department said three men set out in a 10-foot rowboat Tuesday morning.
“They were probably just going out for a day of fishing to celebrate (Lewis’ birthday),” said Laurain.
The men got about 25 yards from shore and then noticed they were taking on water, Laurain said. The boat quickly capsized.
Deck made it to shore and was able to summon help.
“He later told detectives that he thought the boat might have been
overloaded,” Laurain said. “It had a motor on it, but they were unable to get it back to shore.”
The township dive team was summoned and they found the first victim at about 12:30 p.m., near where the boat had capsized. They found the other man about 45 minutes later.
“They were wearing layers of heavy clothing,” said Laurain.
He said the initial indication was that it was just a tragic accident.
“There was no indication that alcohol was involved in this,” he said.
“It looks like it was just three friends who went out for a day of fishing.”
