Staff Report / July 13, 2026
NEWARK – A weekend sightseeing excursion turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when a traveler lost his life after slipping into the Erie Canal. A 65-year-old Canadian man died on Saturday evening following a sudden fall into the water within the Village of Newark.
The emergency began just before 6:15 p.m. when the Newark Police Department rushed to the vicinity of Van Buren Street after receiving an urgent report of a water rescue in progress. Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers discovered a woman desperately scanning the water for her significant other. Emergency crews immediately mobilized, launching rescue boats into the canal to conduct a thorough search of the area. Tragically, by the time the man was located and pulled from the water, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to accident investigators, the victim had traveled to the area from Canada by boat, accompanied by his significant other and a pair of friends. The group had docked in the village to explore the local sights when the fatal accident occurred.
The response and subsequent investigation into the weekend drowning highlight several key details released by local emergency officials:
The Fatal Slip: Authorities state the 65-year-old victim lost his footing and fell directly into the narrow gap between the docked vessel and the canal shoreline.
Rapid Multi-Agency Search: Local emergency crews deployed multiple rescue watercraft into the Erie Canal immediately after arriving at the Van Buren Street location.
Identity Temporarily Withheld: The Newark Police Department has chosen not to publicly release the name of the deceased man at this time, pending the formal notification of his extended family.
Active Investigation: Local law enforcement officials confirmed that the precise circumstances surrounding the drowning remain under active investigation.
