Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood is urging the public to stay safe on the river this Memorial Day weekend, warning that drownings happen every year despite ongoing public awareness efforts.
As part of a longstanding tradition, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office updates a sign at the mouth of the canyon each year to reflect the number of people who have drowned in the river. The sign has been in place since 1968.
“No matter what we do, no matter how we advertise, people are destined to get in that river without a raft, without a vest, and people drown every year, and it’s really sad,” Youngblood said…