A Brooklyn man in town for the track season drowned while fishing on Saratoga Lake on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
Police said James Washington, 61, of 153 Marcus Garvey Blvd. in New York City was in Saratoga Springs working at the race course as a groomer and stable attendant.
According to witnesses, Washington was fishing at Saratoga Lake off State Route 9P when he lost hold of his fishing pole. He then apparently climbed down a cement pillar to retrieve his pole, but stumbled into the water below. Witnesses responded to his cries for help, but Washington had gone under water before they could reach him. His body was recovered by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department dive team after a brief search. The team was assisted at the scene by members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the New York State Park Police, the Quaker Springs fire department and the New York State Police. Washington’s identity was withheld for several hours pending notification of his family.
Preliminary autopsy reports performed at Saratoga Hospital show the cause of death as asphyxiation due to drowning
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