The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office details two recent drownings

COCONINO COUNTY, Arizona. – Two recent drownings Coconino County were detailed by the sheriff’s office to emphasize the importance of using personal flotation devices.

On Saturday, September 28, the sheriff’s office reported that a 58-year-old Montana man had drowned in Dogtown Lake.

Teams from the sheriff’s office, Williams police and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office assisted in locating the unidentified man.

The sheriff’s office did not say what led to the man’s death.

The second drowning occurred on Sunday, September 29, near the campsite at ul Lake Ashurst. A lone paddleboard washed ashore and that’s when people became suspicious.

“Upon deputies’ arrival, they searched the shoreline, finding no indication of the circumstances behind the paddleboard. “Deputies then began contacting other campers and recreationists around the lake,” the sheriff’s office said.

An empty car was found that was designed to haul a paddleboard. The car was registered to a Flagstaff resident.

While officers were en route to the car’s registered address, a woman called the sheriff’s office to report that her husband had missed his trip. Her husband was a missing paddleboarder.

Search teams combed the area Sunday evening and Monday. The dive team found an unidentified man dead in the lake on September 30 at around 4:20 p.m.

“The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to emphasize the importance of boating and water safety. Initial investigation into these tragedies indicates that this may have been the cause of both accidents. You must use a personal flotation device (PFD) during water recreation. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance in both incidents,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.