A night of drinking with friends may have ended in fatal accident for a Mercedes man whose body was found inside a car partially submerged in a canal.

Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office deputies are investigating the 27-year-old Alejandro Balandran of Mercedes.

Sheriff Lupe Treviño said deputies don't believe foul play is responsible for Balandran's death.

"This is being investigated as a private property collision, unless autopsy results dictate otherwise," Sheriff Treviño said.

Investigators said agricultural employees first spotted Balandran's 1988 Mazda Protege upside down in a canal off Mile 12 1/2 North and FM 491.

Authorities pulled the car from the water and found Balandran's body inside.

Investigators told Action 4 News that Balandran had been drinking at a friend's house nearby the scene early Saturday morning.

Balandran left the friend's house around 5:30 a.m. Saturday and had not been seen since.

Criminal records show that Balandran had a previous conviction for DWI back in December 2006.

Court records show that Balandran had been sentenced to 45 days in jail to be followed by six months of probation and a $350 dollar fine.

It's not clear whether or not Balandran had a driver's license.