Wrentham man, 73, discovered useless in Hamilton lake after apparently getting disoriented driving dwelling

Native Information

Officers consider Steve Perry was touring on a darkish highway that led to a ship touchdown when he by chance drove into the water.

The seek for a lacking 73-year-old Wrentham man got here to an finish Wednesday as officers discovered his physique close to a ship ramp to a lake in Hamilton.

Authorities consider Steve Perry by chance drove his automobile into the water at Chebacco Lake after turning into disoriented. He had not been seen since getting misplaced whereas driving Saturday afternoon. 

Wrentham Police Chief Invoice McGrath mentioned in a press release that it seems Perry had been touring on a darkish highway that led to the boat touchdown when he by chance drove into the water and submerged his automobile. In a separate launch, the Hamilton Police Division confirmed that officers discovered Perry and his automobile close to the ramp. 

Wrentham police had beforehand requested for the general public’s assist discovering Perry after he didn’t return dwelling Saturday. 

Law enforcement officials have been capable of attain Perry on his cellphone as he drove, and he informed them he grew to become misplaced after getting on Interstate 495. Throughout varied telephone conversations all through the night, the retired truck driver informed officers he was in Windfall; someplace south of Hartford, Connecticut; Revere Seashore; and at last Manchester-by-the-Sea. 

His telephone battery died late within the night, and that was the final time Perry was seen or heard from, Wrentham police mentioned. 

Perry had no identified cognitive impairment, similar to dementia or Alzheimer’s, police mentioned. McGrath informed WHDH he believed Perry might have grow to be extra anxious and disoriented as he struggled to seek out his approach dwelling. 

Investigators tracked Perry to Chebacco Lake utilizing license plate readers and telephone tracing, the information outlet reported.

“I feel, being drained, and I do know he bought drained simply, that he went down that highway, didn’t fairly visualize the horizon accurately the place the highway ended and the boat dock started, and plunged into the water,” McGrath informed WHDH.