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MCSO: Two people found dead inside car in Buckeye Valley canal

MCSO: Two dead in car in Buckeye Valley canal
Posted at 9:46 AM, Jan 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-03 19:47:41-05

A man and his teenage son were found dead inside a vehicle in a Buckeye Valley canal on Wednesday morning.

According to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, agricultural workers found a car in a canal near Agua Caliente and Old US 80.

It's believed that the car was driving along Old US 80 when the driver lost control and flipped the truck into an irrigation canal, an MCSO spokesperson said. 

Officials don't know how long the vehicle was in the water before it was discovered, however, two people inside the car were pronounced dead. 

MCSO later identified the victims as 38-year-old Patrick Gonzalez and his 14-year-old son. The teenager's name has not been released.

Family members tell ABC15 that the pair was returning home to Gila Bend after a bird hunting trip when the crash occurred. 

Gonzalez's brother, Bo Gonzalez, described the victim as being a cowboy who loved the outdoors. Bo says Patrick was one of eight siblings and that his nephew was an aspiring athlete. The father and son were extremely close.

"They were always out here hunting," Bo said.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, however, it appears it was an accidental death.

"...I'd sure like to know what happened, you know," Bo said. "I just hope they didn't suffer."

No further information is available at this time and an investigation is ongoing.