A Fourth of July holiday weekend kayak trip ended in tragedy for an Ann Arbor family.
Christopher Peterson, 42, died after a kayaking accident Sunday in Lake Huron.
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Peterson was with his wife and their two sons, ages 5 and 8,when their kayak started taking on water.
The family had set out from Eagle Bay at the northern tip of Michigan's Thumb region. They were about one-quarter mile east of Turnip Rock when the kayak sunk.
Robert Hobkirk, Michigan Department of Natural Resources officer for Huron County, said the children had life jackets, but Peterson and his wife did not have life jackets.
Boaters were able to pull the children and their mother out of the choppy water, but Peterson went under. His body was recovered four hours later.
Peterson was a teacher at Ann Arbor Skyline High School.
Here is a statement from the school district:
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Family is mourning the loss of Skyline High School teacher, Christopher Peterson, who died this past weekend in a kayaking accident on Lake Huron.
Mr. Peterson joined the Ann Arbor Public Schools in 2009 and taught English as a Second Language and English/Language Arts classes. He was very highly regarded by his colleagues, his students and the Skyline community. He will be deeply missed by all.
He leaves behind wife, Sarah Peterson, and two sons.
Please keep Christopher’s family, friends, colleagues and students close in your thoughts at this difficult time.