SAR: Placer County - Swift water - No Joy - 1 dead

River Rapids Claim Life of Rocklin Woman

PLACER COUNTY, CA - A mother and son's river outing turned tragic Saturday afternoon when the two were sucked in by strong rapids on a river near Colfax.

It happened along the Placer-Nevada County line, where the 51-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son were tubing on the Bear River. Both were wearing life preservers.

However, Cal Fire officials said the water became so rough that the woman was sucked under, and her life jacket came off. She was caught beneath the surface, and drowned.

Her son washed ashore, and survived.

Cal Fire said even though mother and son were wearing life jackets, the rapids in that area are simply too dangerous.

"When you look at the river, and it's flowing fast, that right there is your first warning not to get in," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Chris Paulus.

"Once you're in, you're going down. The river has you, what choice do you have but go along with it? They may have gotten themselves in a situation they didn't want to be in, but (by then) they were committed," said Paulus.

The woman's name was not released.

Source: News10 article - Link