Authorities in suburban Wilmington say that a 67-year-old man has died after he tumbled down an embankment and into a creek.
According to police, 67-year-old Mevin Von Kaenel’s body was found lying in the creek just east of a bridge in the 1500 block of Charlotte Street on Wednesday evening.
Police say that officers were checking on reports of a vehicle that had run off a road near Deer Creek when they found Von Kaenel’s SUV near a dead end, resting against a concrete bridge support.
Officers began a check of the area, and that’s when they found Von Kaenel’s body.
An investigation indicates that Von Kaenel had exited his vehicle after it became stuck at the dead end, and while he was walking he fell down the embankment and into the creek, where he was later found.
Police say that the victim’s family had reported him missing while officers were on the scene of the incident. Family members say that Von Kaenel left his home at approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday night and had not returned home.
Toxicology results are pending, but police currently believe his death was accidental.
