By Chris Caraveo
By Chris Caraveo, Independent Newsmedia
A man died after falling into Lake Pleasant Monday night, according to a sheriff’s spokesman.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez stated Tuesday that the man was identified as William Ward, 24 of Phoenix.
Sgt. Enriquez stated Ward fell an estimated 40 to 50 feet into the lake. The incident occurred before 9 p.m. March 20.
Peoria Fire Department PIO Tim Eiden stated Ward received traumatic injuries due to the fall, which occurred at the north end of the lake near a four-lane boat ramp.
He then fell into the water and was submerged for a matter of minutes, Eiden stated. An off-duty firefighter then pulled Ward from the lake and began CPR.
A Good Samaritan watercraft transported Ward to the Four Lane boat ramp while his brother and the boat operator performed CPR. Upon arrival at the ramp, Peoria Fire personnel pronounced Ward dead.
Lake Patrol detectives assumed the investigation. Early information indicates Ward was extremely intoxicated and walked off the cliff when circling a campfire which had been built in close proximity to the cliff’s edge, Sgt. Enriquez stated in an email.
There are no indications of foul play. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine if the cause of death was by drowning or trauma sustained during the fall.
Ward was at Lake Pleasant with friends and family.
MCSO has investigated two lake incidents since March 19. The office's dive team recovered the body of a 28-year-old man at Canyon Lake, northeast of Apache Junction on Sunday.
