Inkster man drowns in Belleville Lake looking for boat motor cover

Orlando Lee Ponder, 50, of Inkster drowned in Belleville Lake while trying to retrieve his boat’s motor cover at about 5:54 p.m. Saturday.
That was according to the preliminary investigation conducted by Van Buren Township Police, according to a news release by Lt. Kenneth Floro.
A homeowner on Belleville Lake made the 911 call advising that a person fell into the lake while working on a boat in the 43400 block of the South I-94 Service Drive.
The caller told police that the person fell in the lake while attempting to retrieve a boat motor cover. He went under the water and they could not relocate him.
Dispatched to the scene were police units, fire apparatus, the VBT Marine Division, the Wayne County Sheriff Marine Division, the VBT Dive Team, and Huron Valley Ambulance.
Emergency officials were able to gather additional information to establish a last scene point for the man and the Dive Team started searching at 6:36 p.m.
At 6:40 p.m., the Dive Team located Ponder in 15 feet of water about 20 feet from the closest dock and 40 feet from shore. HVA and VBT Fire Department immediately initiated life-saving efforts.
HVA transported Ponder to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Ponder was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. VBT police were conducting an investigation into the drowning and was waiting for information from the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this case, Lt. Floro said.
Anyone having information about this incident is asked to contact the VBT Police Department at (734) 699-8930.