Two Drowning Incidents in Kittitas County

Kittitas County, WA – 07/23/2020 – Accidental drownings were reported Thursday afternoon in the Yakima River and Lake Cle Elum

Around 2:30 pm on Thursday, a group of rafters on the Yakima River south of the Ringer Loop boat launch discovered the bodies of a 56 year old woman and a 62 year old man under a log jam in the water. The two appeared to have drowned in an accident while fishing from a pontoon boat. The man and woman resided in the Cle Elum area; Deputies are contacting their families.

In a separate incident at about 3:30 pm, a 14 year old girl and 15 year old boy were swimming in Lake Cle Elum near the boat launch at the Wish Poosh campground when both disappeared under the choppy water. The girl was recovered from the water after a few minutes; she was treated and transported to KVH where she is in satisfactory condition. The 15 year old boy remains missing and is presumed still in the water. Deputies are searching the area where he was last seen using Sheriff’s Office marine and drone resources.

We grieve with the families of those lost in both of these tragic accidents.