Columbus man dies at Deer Creek State Park

Lt. Brown, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, watches a diver in the water during the search for a drowning victim Monday at Deer Creek. (Photo courtesy of the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office)

MT. STERLING – A Columbus man has died after drowning Monday afternoon at Deer Creek State Park, according to Sheriff Robert Radcliff.

Juvanel Vazquez Rodriguez, 29, of Columbus, was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. John Ellis, Pickaway County Coroner. His body was discovered in about 12 feet of water at the designated swimming area of the lake.

According to reports, the Pickaway County Marine Patrol, a division of the sheriff’s office that patrols the lake, responded to the scene after receiving a call about 2:03 p.m. of a possible drowning at the beach at 14270 Crownover Mill Rd.

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Update – Pickaway County Man Dies in Drowning Incident

Dive teams from the Pickaway County and Franklin County Sheriff’s offices were called in, and Rodriguez’s body was recovered about 4:07 p.m.

The body was transported to the Montgomery County morgue for autopsy as the investigation continues.

Local agencies were assisted as the scene by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, state park rangers, state wildlife officers, the Division of Watercraft, Army Corps of Engineers, Pic-A-Fay Fire Department, Fayette County Life Squad and BOX 65 scene support.