Man found dead in Phoenix canal was driver in nearby crash, police say

A man found dead in a west Phoenix canal Monday was identified as the driver who fled a nearby crash a day earlier, police said.

Nicholas Anderson, 43, was recovered from the canal near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road after officers received a report of a body about 2 p.m. Monday.

Police said officers initially responded to a single-vehicle crash in the area about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle had struck a utility pole and a nearby building.

Witnesses told officers the driver ran from the scene and entered a nearby canal.

Officers searched the canal with help from a police helicopter but did not find him.

Firefighters helped recover Anderson’s body Monday.

Detectives later confirmed he was driving the vehicle in Sunday’s crash, police said.

The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner will determine how he died.

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