Category Archives: safety

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Video

Law Enforcement Gears Up For Fourth of July On River

 

Sacramento County Park Rangers and the Sacramento County Marine Unit cruised the lower American River today to get ready for a crowded July Fourth weekend.

Flows are nearly triple what they were a month ago and they want to prepare for swifter currents and hidden hazards that might affect rescues.  They also need to warn rafters and swimmers about danger areas.

The biggest concern is still illegal alcohol use on the river, which is banned on the four-day holiday. Alcohol can contribute to violent fights.

“With deadly weapons, cobbles, sticks, whatever they can get their hands on,” said Ranger Randy Lewis.

But there are more families on the river since the holiday alcohol ban took effect several years ago. Jose Vasquez makes sure his son Gabriel uses on at Discovery Park where he knows about the history of drownings.

More at Fox40.com >>>
safety, Water

Coroner identifies Roseville man as Lake Natoma drowning victim

A man whose body was recovered from Lake Natoma early Saturday has been identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office as 19-year-old Guillermo Fabian Contreras of Roseville.

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews and members of the Drowning and Accident Rescue Team responded to the lake about 8:10 p.m. Friday. Capt. Bryan Thomson said a group of young men were at the lake when Contreras swam out to retrieve a ball in the channel.

He began having difficulties and another member of the group tried to come to his aid as he went under water, but was unable to rescue him.

The second man also began having trouble but was rescued.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Drowning reported in American River near Howe Avenue

A man drowned Sunday evening in the American River near Howe Avenue, the fourth case in the city of Sacramento this summer, officials said.

The Sacramento Fire Department received a call at 5:40 p.m. reporting a possible drowning, according to Battalion Chief Shawn Perry. Up to a dozen firefighters searched the river, while a helicopter scanned from above, Perry said.

After an hour, the fire department ended its search without finding the victim. Perry said crews would return when a sighting of the victim is reported.

“We’ve exhausted the survivability of the victim,” Perry said. He explained that the man could not have survived the frigid water past the time they searched.

Perry said the man had little swimming background and went into the river with a friend. The current pulled him in, and witnesses said they spotted the man one to two times about 100 feet offshore, according to Perry.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, safety, Water

American River bluff search ended; no victims found

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District has concluded that it could find no evidence that a person was injured or killed where a hillside collapsed along the American River bluffs east of the Fair Oaks Bridge.

At noon, Sac Metro fire officials said that “based on neither of the two human remains dogs finding anything” the department’s responders “have terminated command and concluded search operations.”

The agency had sent about 20 firefighters back to check the area Sunday morning after a half dozen people reported seeing a shirtless man in black short who was hiking in the area Saturday evening disappear.

He was walking on the north side of the American River when the hillside collapsed.

Based on those reports, Sac Metro Fire reported deploying about 60 people, using search dogs, boats and helicopers on Saturday night.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Fish, safety, Water, Wildlife

Rules are tricky for spearfishing in American River

If you want to try spearfishing in the American River, don’t start by purchasing a spear gun, or investigating where to dive for the biggest bass. Instead, you may want to call your attorney first.

New regulations approved by the California Fish and Game Commission in 2012 opened the American River to spearfishing for striped bass for the first time, and only downstream of Harrington Way, near Sacramento’s William Pond Recreation Area. The new rule took effect May 1 this year.

Trouble is, the commission didn’t consult Sacramento County, which manages the American River Parkway as part of the county parks system.

It classifies spears and spear guns as weapons, which are banned in the American River Parkway just like guns, and bows and arrows.

In other words, if you drive to the parkway, pull your spear gun out of the trunk and walk over to the river, a county park ranger or a state game warden could cite you for a misdemeanor and confiscate your weapon.

More at SacBee.com >>>
Bike Trail, safety, Water

Multiple Fire Agencies Searching For Man Following Ground Slide

Rescue crews are searching the waters of the American River after the ground slid underneath a man walking along the river Saturday night.

Fire crews from Sacramento Metro Fire, the Sacramento Fire Department, and the Folsom Fire Department are searching the waters for the man. The slide is reported to be about 20 to 30 feet wide and 5 to 6 feet deep.

Six witnesses reportedly saw the man fall into the water as a result of that slide.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

safety, Water

Divers recover body of man who drowned in Lake Natoma

Divers early this morning retrieved the body of a man who drowned in Lake Natoma late Friday near the CSUS Aquatic Center off Hazel Avenue.

Capt. Bryan Thomson of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said a group of young men were at the lake about 8:10 p.m. when the 20-year-old victim swam out to retrieve a ball in the channel. He began having difficulties and another member of the group tried to come to his aid as he went under water, but was unable to rescue him.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, safety, Water

Rescue team searches for missing swimmer near aquatic center

Divers are searching Lake Natoma late Friday for a man believed to have drowned near the CSUS Aquatic Center off Hazel Avenue.

Capt. Bryan Thomson of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said a group of young men were at the lake about 8:10 p.m. when one man swam out to retrieve a ball in the channel. He began having difficulties and another member of the group tried to come to his aid as he went under water, but was unable to rescue him.

More at SacBee.com >>>
Bike Trail, safety

Officials crack down on speeders along American River bike trail

Bicyclists racing along the American River bike trail in Sacramento will soon risk speeding tickets for exceeding the 15 mph speed limit.

Sacramento County has been issuing warnings this month to cyclists caught on a speed detector going 20 to 25 mph.

Soon, they will face a $50 fine for the first offense and $100 for a second citation.

Ranger Sgt. Randy Lewis stood along the bike trail Friday afternoon with an infrared speed detector, calling out speeds to cyclists as they passed.

“Going 23, slow it down!” he shouted.

Lewis said the 28-mile bike trail, from Hazel Avenue to Discovery Park, is used by a wide variety of people including kids, joggers, and people walking dogs.

“It’s not a raceway, it’s a parkway,” Lewis said.

More at KCRA.com >>>