A relaxing fourth of July on the water for 28-year old Christopher Zutes turned deadly when his 20-foot flats boat struck a channel marker around 7 p.m. last night.

Zutes, of Tampa, was the lone passenger on the vessel which also struck the seawall near the Gandy bridge, alerting witnesses. His body was found by authorites on the north side of the bridge around 2 a.m. according to reports from Bay News 9 this morning.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Tampa Police Department dive team were sent out on a search for Zutes after the crash was reported. Due to conditions, the search had to be halted for a bit and later resumed.

The report suggests the possibility that Zutes had been racing, but says that authorities are not ruling out strong tidal currents and heavy boat traffic due to the holiday also playing a part in the accident.