Authorities using boats and a miniature robot sub are combing the Sacramento River in hopes of locating an apparent drowning victim, who vanished near Woodson’s Bridge Wednesday.
The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office reports that it has identified the missing teen but is not releasing his name. Authorities said the deceased was 17 years old.
Sgt. Rod Daugherty with the office said authorities raced to the scene after an initial call reporting a possible drowning shortly after 2 p.m.
Quoting a witness, Daugherty said a youth wearing red shorts set out to swim across the river from the west bank, but began struggling about halfway across the river. The current runs swiftly along that stretch of river.
Despite air temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, water in the Sacramento is only around 60—cold enough to put one’s body into shock.
The current, and large amounts of submerged debris, have largely dissuaded authorities from using divers in the search.
Daugherty said Tehama County authorities have borrowed a remote controlled miniature submarine from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office to aid in recovery efforts.