Headline Surfer® graphic / Michael K. Gross, 51, was identified as the motorist found dead in his Nissan Pathfinder submerged in Spruce Creek, just south of Anita Street at South Williamson Boulevard on this Wednesday morning as shown in this snapshot locator map.PORT ORANGE -- A motorist was found dead in the front driver's side of his SUV submerged in the water of Spruce Creek Spruce at 7:30 this morning near South Williamson Boulevard at Anita Street after a report that a single vehicle had driven off the roadway, Port Orange cops said.
Port Orange police and fire rescue units responded to and found a vehicle completely submerged in the water in the center of Spruce Creek partially wedged against the bridge pylons where they discovered a body.
"Three Port Orange officers, a Volusia County Deputy, and two Port Orange firefighters entered the water in an attempt to locate occupants of the vehicle," Port Orange Assistant Police Chief Wayne Miller told Headline Surfer®. "One person was located in the driver’s seat of the vehicle however deceased. No other occupants were inside the vehicle. The vehicle in question was a Nissan SUV Pathfinder. Fryer’s Towing Service utilized two large wreckers to pull the vehicle from the water."
The victim was identified as Michael K. Gross (DOB 04-11-1962) of Port Orange. The Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and took custody of the body. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. This traffic fatality remains open and is currently under investigation by Port Orange Traffic Homicide Investigators. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Port Orange Police Sgt. Thomas Aiken at 386-506-5840.