EAST PROVIDENCE — A man is dead after first responders in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 4, found a vehicle submerged off the coast of Bold Point Park in city at the confluence of the Providence and Seekonk Rivers.

Later that same evening, the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as 52-year-old James Cavanaugh of Taunton.

According to the report of East Providence Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Rapoza, Cavanaugh’s family described him as an avid fisherman who would typically fish every day. Rapoza wrote EPPD detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident,  but do not believe foul play is a factor.

At the outset, public safety officials said eyewitnesses initially reported seeing a truck enter the waters from a grassy area near the Bold Point boat ramp at approximately 5 a.m.

East Providence Fire and Police Department personnel were soon joined at the scene by other local outfits, including the United States Coast Guard and the Rhode Island State Police, in their attempts to recover the vehicle.

Divers were finally able to reach the truck and determine at least one person was deceased at around 9 a.m. At about noontime, a tow line was secured on the vehicle and it began to be pulled from the water.

Battalion Chief Steve Mastriano, who coordinated the EPFD response, told media  the city's dive team struggled with the "strong current" earlier in the day. Later, a State Police dive team arrived to help broaden the search, which enabled crews to secure the vehicle just after noon.

It was ascertained immediately the person found inside the truck was an adult male and had perished. He was the lone casualty. No other vehicles were involved. The make of the truck, which had Massachusetts license plates, was a late model Nissan, Frontier "Pro-4" model.

"The dive team confirmed it on their first dive and we confirmed it, obviously, when we removed the vehicle," Mastriano said of determining Cavanaugh's condition as the recovery effort started.

Officials were still trying to figure out why Cavanaugh was at the park so early in the day, though it is a popular spot for recreational fishermen as well as visitors who want an up-close view of local waters.

"There were fishermen here. People come here at this time of the morning, or that time of the morning fishing, fishing or whatever. So I don't know why he was here, but it's tragic. It's tragic that someone lost their life," Mastriano added.

— This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is provided.