Man who drowned in fishing accident was kind and friendly, neighbors say

Neighbors said a 45-year-old man who died in a fishing accident Tuesday afternoon was generous to others and will be greatly missed.

William Medina went fishing on Mountain Island Lake, fell in and drowned, officials said. He couldn’t swim.

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Medina, a father and entrepreneur, was well known on Rosehaven Drive in east Charlotte.

His neighbor Michele Washington was stunned by Medina’s sudden death.

“He was friendly,” she said. “He was nice. He helped you when he needed it.”

Washington’s son played with Medina’s son.

“He will be devastated,” she said.

In the neighborhood he was known as the “Hot Dog” man.

Medina’s neighbors said they looked forward to seeing him at the hot dog stand.

“The neighbors used to drive through here, come from across town to get his hot dogs and stuff and whatever else he had, but I know the hot dogs were pretty good,” Washington said.

Jmeralde Quijano was one of the many children who received hot dogs from Medina and said everyone will miss him.

“I just want to tell him that everyone loved him,” Jmeralde said. “He was a nice guy and God loved him and his son too. His son is my friend.”

Medina’s family was unavailable to speak to Channel 9 following their loss.

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