Deceased male found in Newell County canal

Brooks RCMP confirmed on Tuesday, July 9 that the Brooks Fire department had found a deceased adult male in the Spring Hill Canal as fire department members were conducting a search of the canal.

The male had not been identified as of Wednesday morning and RCMP are working in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Calgary.

There is no indication that this is a suspicious occurance.

Members of the fire departments from Brooks and Medicine Hat, RCMP, including a K9 unit, as well as members of Southeast Alberta Search and Rescue and HALO had been searching the area when the vehicle believed to be driven by 25-year-old Joseph Given reportedly veered off Highway 1, traveled through a field for approximately three-quarters to one kilometres at a high rate of speed, and subsequently, hit a ravine, ending up submerged in water.

“When we arrived, there was no person located in and around the vehicle, so we don’t know how many occupants would be in the vehicle, whether it was a single driver or there were passengers in there,” said Brooks RCMP Cpl. Richelle Daly, adding that the vehicle was registered to Given’s father.

“The registered owner of the vehicle was his father, so he was contacted that night and we were advised that (Given) was the primary driver of the vehicle,” said Daly.

“The previous night, he was in contact with his family and it’s believed he was driving the vehicle at that time. So he’s the last known operator.”

Further information will be provided when it is made available.

With files from the Medicine Hat News.