Bend River Floaters Rescued at Dam Spillway
Three members of an Oregon City family floating the Deschutes River in Bend, including a teen and young girl, narrowly averted tragedy Thursday afternoon when they encountered the turbulent water at the Colorado Avenue Dam spillway, prompting a fast, successful rescue effort.
Bend police and fire personnel responded around 2:40 p.m. to a report of three people clinging to a bridge pylon above the spillway, said police Lt. Chris Carney.
Several officers and Bend fire personnel secured Barry Gregory, 55, Sarah Jo Gregory, 15, and Molly Jo Gregory, 6, and were able to pull them to safety, Carney said.
The three victims were unhurt during the 15- to 20-minute incident, he said.
Bend Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said the three were family members on separate rental inner tubes, and one got separated from the other two, which was the start of their problems.
According to police, Barry Gregory said he saw the warning signs along the river as they approached the bridge, but was caught off-guard by how fast the river was moving.
Carney said fire and police officials want to remind people using area rivers ?of the inherent dangers of swimming and floating in them.?
?Please use extreme caution and stay aware of how swift and unpredictable our local rivers are,? Carney said in a news release. ?Please use caution and have a safe summer.?
