Location: Kern River at Limestone Campground

Incident Date: 06-03-2016

Incident Time: 1830 hours

Case Number: 16-07099

Victim: 4 adults, 1 juvenile

City: Kern River

Posted by: Dispatch

On Friday 6-3-16 at 1830 hours the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office was advised of five victims who had been thrown from their river raft into the Kern River.  None of the victims, including a 1 ½ year old infant, were wearing life vests.  They were able to make their way to shore on river right, but because of the high flow of the Kern River, (2040 CFS) they were not able to cross back to the campground side. 

TCSO, CAL Fire, and Kern County SAR volunteers responded to the scene and all five victims were transported safely back to the campground side of the shore by the Kern County SAR team using an oar frame raft to effect the rescue. 

One victim sustained a cut to her chin which was treated at the scene.  No victims required any other medical assistance. 

At this time, the Kern River is at a high rate of flow due to the warmer temperatures.  It is important that the public is  educated about the danger of the Kern River to persons not wearing flotation vests and using inner tube type floats and non-professional type river rafts, which are easily overturned in the swift currents and can be deflated by impacts with rocks and branches.  The temperature of the water can quickly cause hypothermia, basically disabling a swimmer's ability to swim.