The incident, which took place along the Erie Canal on Van Buren Street, claimed the life of Edwin Rodriguez, 50, of Newark. Police say two people fishing reported seeing a man in his 40s in the water who appeared to be swimming across the canal. The callers saw the man go under water and did not resurface.

Reports of a man drowning in the Erie Canal near Lock 28B came in after 3:30 p.m. According to the Newark Police Department, two people fishing saw a man in his 40s who appeared to be swimming across the canal.

Newark police have confirmed that one person drowned near the Lock 2B in the Erie Canal. Newark emergency services responded to a possible drowning in the Erie Canal near Van Buren Street on Wednesday around 3:43 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing a man in his 40s swimming across the canal before he went underwater and did not resurface.

Two witnesses reported seeing a man in his 40s attempting to swim across the canal before going under the water. He did not resurface. The Newark Fire Department attempted to find