Stanwood woman’s death not thought to be suspicious

Published 10:49 am Friday, February 22, 2008

STANWOOD – Foul play is not suspected in the death of a woman who was found in a water-filled ditch Thursday night near Stanwood, officials said today.

The Snohomish County medical examiner is expected to conduct an examination today to determine how the woman died.

The woman, thought to be in her 60s, was found about 6:30 p.m. by a neighbor. Police believe the woman drove into a deep irrigation ditch while driving down her long driveway, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

The woman got out of her car but wasn’t able to get out of the ditch, Hover said.

The ditch was filled with about three feet of cold water, said Christian Davis, battalion chief for North County Fire &EMS.

The woman was last seen about noon Thursday, Hover said. Police don’t know when the accident happened. Davis said the woman likely had been in the ditch for some time.

Meanwhile Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives continue to investigate the death of a man who was found Thursday on a vacant lot in the 8110 block of 140th Street SW, north of the Tulalip Indian Reservation.

The property owner discovered the man’s body while he was inspecting the land. It’s not known how the man died.

The medical examiner is expected to conduct an examination today.