Wiggins said Monterey Drowning a “Tragedy”

Monterey Mayor Bill Wiggins said a wave of sadness overcame the community Friday due to the loss of a life and a child losing his father.

41-year-old Derek Lee Wilson drowned while trying to save his son Thursday evening. The two were fishing on a kayak at Meadow Creek Park.

“We send out our sadness and feelings and sense of loss to the family of the deceased, but also, to this young man,” Wiggins said. “That this will not have a lasting effect on him in a negative way.”

Wiggins said residents need to wear a life jacket while participating in water sports to prevent another tragedy from occurring.

“There is a 100 acre lake out there, and we have to stress to please wear a life jacket,” Wiggins said. “It seems like tragedies reminds us the importance of safeties. When you are on the water, wear a life jacket. We want zero incidents like this from here on out.”