Overview
- A gathering along the Scioto River near Powell turned deadly when one person who went swimming became distressed and multiple others entered the water to help, resulting in five deaths.
- First responders pulled two women from the river late Sunday night and pronounced them dead at hospitals, and search teams recovered the bodies of three men around 2 p.m. the following day.
- A passing motorist alerted authorities after seeing a distraught child on State Route 257, and two children from the group are now in the care of Delaware County Job & Family Services.
- The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is leading an active investigation with help from township, county, ODNR, fire and EMS agencies, and officials have not yet said whether alcohol or other factors contributed.
- The Scioto River is a popular local waterway with rising levels in recent days, and officials urged basic water‑safety measures such as life vests and caution around currents to prevent similar tragedies.