Teen who drowned in West Bloomfield lake identified
The 17-year-old boy whose body was recovered after he jumped into a West Bloomfield lake early Thursday has been identified as Sean Patrick Collins, according to the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.
Collins was a rising senior at Walled Lake Central High School, the school's principal, Charles Morgan, said in a voice message sent out to parents.
Collins was boating with a group of six friends on the lake at about 1 a.m., said deputy chief Curt Lawson of the West Bloomfield Police Department. At one point, when the boat was traveling slowly, Collins said he was jumping in, then followed through on it. He hadn’t been seen since, until being recovered just before 9 a.m.
While some in the group had been drinking, Lawson said it’s too early to tell if alcohol was a factor in the teen's death.
The first 911 call came in at about 1:15 a.m., said Hal Burtzloff, a captain of the West Bloomfield Fire Department. West Bloomfield called the sheriff’s office, which patrols the waters in Oakland County, and the sheriff’s office sent its dive team.
“Our hearts go out to the families,” Lawson said.
Morgan said in the message that Collins was a "well-liked student who performed in several musical and dramatic productions."
Walled Lake Central High School will be open from noon-2 p.m. Friday for students to gather and honor Collins' memory. Counselors, social workers and teaching staff will be available at the school.
"We are keeping the Collins family in our thoughts and prayers," Morgan said.