Texas man dies in fall from Panhandle hotel balcony

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – An investigation is underway after a 62-year-old man fell from a 12th floor balcony of a Panama City Beach hotel.

Authorities say Thomas H. Saunders of Southlake, Texas, was chaperoning a group of spring breakers staying at the Holiday Inn Resort. He fell Wednesday onto the hotel lobby's roof.

The News Herald of Panama City reports Saunders' daughter and her four friends were sleeping in the hotel room when he fell.

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Panama City Beach police say they don't suspect foul play. They're still trying to determine how Saunders fell and his exact cause of death.

Hotel management told the newspaper the incident appeared to be accidental and was not alcohol-related.

An autopsy is pending.


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