News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Sheriff's Office responds after unidentified man drowns at Wagon Wheel Park

Posted: Aug. 15, 2010, 8:55 p.m.

At about 7 p.m. this evening (Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010), Molalla Fire personnel and Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a request for help with a drowning victim at Wagon Wheel Park.

Wagon Wheel Park is located on the Molalla River, at its intersection with Highway 213 (28100 S. Hwy 213, Molalla, OR).

The circumstances of the drowning are unknown -- as the victim was found accidentally by a man and woman who were swimming at the park.

The couple was diving in a slow-moving section of the river that is about seven to eight feet deep when the woman spotted a body on the river bottom. She alerted her boyfriend -- who dove in the water, recovered the victim's body, and started the alert for medical response.

Attempts by medical personnel to resuscitate the victim were unsuccessful. The victim has not been identified. How long he was in the water is not known either.

The victim is described as an adult Hispanic male dressed in denim shorts, white socks and a black tank-top. He was seen at the park just prior to being found in the river -- but there were no witnesses at the park who claimed to know the man.

The victim's body was transported to the State Medical Examiner's Office.

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Contact Info:
Capt. Kevin Layng
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office