Overview
- A group gathered at the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir in Powell when one person began to struggle in the water and four others entered to help, causing all five adults to drown in a cascading rescue attempt on Sunday night.
- First responders recovered two women from the river Sunday evening and those women were later pronounced dead at hospitals, while the bodies of three men were found the next day during continued search operations.
- Two children under age 10 ran to a nearby road and flagged down a passing motorist who called 911, and the children have been placed in the care of Delaware County Job & Family Services.
- U.S. Geological Survey data showed the Scioto River was running unusually high at about 350 cubic feet per second on the day of the incident, a rate officials said can create strong currents that endanger swimmers and would-be rescuers.
- The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, is withholding victim identities pending family notification, and officials are urging stronger water-safety precautions such as life vests and checking flow conditions before entering the river.