The father of a 21-year-old college student who drowned in the Mississippi River said Thursday he doesnt believe foul play was behind his sons death.
From what weve seen, I have no inkling something else went on, Ken Meyers said. From the dogs, the tracks in the snow, I think it was so cold that it just got the best of Craig and he just couldnt function.
An autopsy Thursday determined the Western Technical College student died of cold water drowning with acute alcohol intoxication and hypothermia as contributing factors, La Crosse County Medical Examiner John Steers said.
Tests on Craig Meyers urine indicated a 0.28 percent blood-alcohol concentration, according to preliminary autopsy results. No traces of drugs were in his system, though final toxicology results will take about a week. The body had no signs of trauma, Steers said.
That level of alcohol consumption likely impaired his motor function, coordination and judgment, said Dr. Chris Miller of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.
Divers pulled Craig Meyers body from the ice-crusted, 28-degree river Tuesday afternoon about 20 feet off shore, just north of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.
The former state champion wrestler had been dropped off on the 700 block of Market Street about 1:50 a.m. Sunday after a wedding reception at All Star Lanes, 4735 Mormon Coulee Road, and stops at two downtown bars, according to police.
Craig Meyers indicated he thought he was near his girlfriends home, though she lives on 16th Street.
A Sara Lee Bakery surveillance camera showed a man matching his description walking west on Cass Street about 2 a.m. Sunday in 1 degree temperatures.
You could see (on video) he was so cold. He was disoriented right from the start. That was very obvious, his father said. He was totally lost as to where he was.
A bloodhound Monday tracked Craig Meyers scent to the river, where police had found a set of footprints in the snow leading out on the ice.
Ken Meyers said he now wants to encourage people to stay together when socializing. I know everyone likes to have fun, but do it with company. Dont do it by yourself.
The family prefers that memorials be donations to improve safety near the riverfront, Ken Meyers said. They have discussed a fence or motion cameras equipped with an alarm to notify police if someone approaches the water, he said.
La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter said he will meet with police next week to discuss the drowning and explore ways to prevent future deaths. Nine intoxicated college-age men have drowned in area rivers since 1997.
We are committed to doing whatever we can to keep these things from happening, he said.
Increased patrols and adding lighting, fences and cameras have been discussed, Harter said. The city also will continue to stress responsible drinking, the mayor said.
As we look at solutions here, we have to determine how much resources we are going to put into this, he said.
Plans are under way for a noon Feb. 28 peaceful demonstration at Riverside Park. Event organizer Paula Homp, whose 17-year-old brother drowned off Chuts Landing in 1986, hopes 8,000 people will attend.
I want people to make a human wall to let people know that, as the citizens of La Crosse, we dont want any more young adults going into the water anymore, said Homp, now the mother of a Western student.
I think people want to know the city is doing whatever they can to prevent these deaths.