The Mesa County Coroner's Office has determined the identity of a man whose body was discovered in an irrigation ditch on Wednesday in the 1200 block of 17 1/2 Road in Fruita.

Authorities believe Grand Junction resident Donald VanMatre, 34, was walking to visit a friend, who also lived in Grand Junction, when he fell into the Grand Valley Irrigation Canal near his home.

According to the coroner's report, VanMatre traveled approximately 17-miles through the canal system before his body was discovered in Fruita.

The autopsy revealed the the cause of death was drowning and accidental.

VanMatre's blood alcohol was .346.

Some were wondering if the discovery of the body had anything to do with a rollover accident off of 18 Road where the driver was nowhere to be found.

Authorities have made no connection between the two incidents.