Body of 17-Year-Old Recovered from American River
The teenager entered the water near the confluence and failed to resurface Thursday morning.
The Auburn-Foresthill Bridge near the North/Middle Fork Yuba River confluence. Credit: Moiseiko at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
AUBURN — Placer County search crews recovered the body of a 17-year-old from the American River on Thursday afternoon. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office reported the recovery downstream from where the teen was last seen.
A witness observed the boy in the water near the confluence of the North and Middle Forks around 10:30 AM. The witness called 9-1-1 shortly after the teen did not resurface, officials said. The boy had been with a group of friends when he jumped into the water, a sheriff’s office spokesperson told reporters.
Search efforts involved the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Auburn State Recreation Area, and the CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit, operating under unified command. Crews deployed a dive team, drones, and a helicopter to locate the missing teen.
Officials confirmed the recovery at 2:55 PM. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the update.
The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin. The sheriff’s office provided no additional details on the incident.