Meridian police say they suspect alcohol was a factor in the drowning death of 43-year-old Kleil B. Williams Wednesday.

Williams was found floating in the Settlers Canal, which runs east to west along McMillan road, Wednesday afternoon. Police officials say they found Williams’ bike, and almost empty bottle of vodka, and other items a little over a mile away, east of where he was found, near the canal bank.

Ada County Coroner’s officials did an autopsy on Williams Thursday morning. Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg said Thursday that while it appears Williams drowned, an official cause of death would not be established until toxicology results are available, which will take several weeks.

Williams, who coroner's reports say has no fixed address, was first discovered by a motorists who saw a body in the canal and called police about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.

A Meridian police officer then found Williams about an eighth of a mile downstream, near Meridian Road, Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said.

Williams was fully clothed and found in a channel of water that is about 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The water temperature is currently at 65 degrees.

It is unclear how long Williams was in the water.

Williams was taken to Saint Luke's Meridian Medical Center after being removed from the canal. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 4:35 p.m. Wednesday.

That drowning followed the accidental drowning of a 5-year-old Nampa boy, Mason Goldberg, in a Star pond on Tuesday night.

Ada County Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg said Wednesday the two fatalities demonstrate the danger posed by cool water.

“Even though it may look like the water’s not that swift, it’s still running,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be running too swift to pin you.”

Irrigation canals also have steep sides, which make it hard to climb out.

Wednesday’s fatality was apparently the first in a canal this summer.