Sheriff Identifies Man Found Dead In Car In Carrollwood Pond

CARROLLWOOD, FL -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has identified a man found dead in a car that was submerged in a Carrollwood Pond.

According to the sheriff's office, on March 15 at 3:41 a.m., Gustavo Bonifacio De La Cruz, 24, was heading west on Prince Street, just west of Florida Avenue, in a white 1999 Honda Accord. He continued through a locked gate at the dead end of Prince Street West and crashed into a retention pond. Surveillance video shows De La Cruz driving down Prince Street at that time.

The car was discovered around 8:30 a.m. by a neighbor who saw the rear end of the Honda sticking out of the water and called 911.

The sheriff's dive team responded and discovered De La Cruz' body in the car. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash.

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