The Ohio river witnessed a tragic incident over the weekend, resulting in the loss of five lives. The incident occurred on Sunday evening at the Scioto River in Powell, a Columbus suburb.
A group had gathered at the river when one of its members went into the water to go swimming. The attempt to save the swimmer led to a series of tragic events. Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said, "And that's when the tragedy started to occur."
As the swimmer struggled, two individuals jumped into the river to help. Unfortunately, they too began to struggle in the water. Two more people then entered the river in an attempt to save the others. "I understand that one person got in the river, was struggling in the water. Two people went in to try to save them," Balzer said.
At around 9 p.m., a distraught child from the group ran onto a nearby road and was spotted by a motorist who called 911. The child alerted authorities to the situation, saying his family was in the river. First responders arrived to find two women who were later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The bodies of three men were discovered in the river on Monday. The identities of the deceased have not been released. It is unclear if alcohol played a role in the tragedy, and no boat was present at the scene.
As a precautionary measure, the Delaware County Sheriff's Department has urged the public to have safety devices like life vests on hand when gathering near bodies of water. The Scioto River is a popular destination for locals, boasting fish populations of bass, saugeye, catfish, and carp.
The incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of water safety. It comes just days after a tragic flash flood in Utah claimed the lives of five family members. The Delaware County Sheriff's Department is continuing to investigate the incident.
