Douglas County First Responders Race to Two River Emergencies — One Ends in Tragedy

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. — Responding to swimmers in difficulty on the North Umpqua River on Saturday, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies attended to two incidents: 33-year-old Andrea Norton of Myrtle Creek was injured and couldn’t return to shore, and, in a separate incident, 50-year-old Jonathon Vasquez of Mapleton, Oregon, tragically drowned.

2 Weekend Rescues On North Umpqua River

The first incident occurred around 2:00 PM near Baker Wayside. Norton, who was enjoying a day with her family by the river, ventured into the current. She was swept downstream to the opposite side of the river, where she slipped on the rocky shoreline, sustaining an ankle injury.

Because Norton’s injury rendered her unable to bear her own weight in the swift currents and nearby rapids, she was stranded. DCSO Deputies, the Glide Fire Department, Central Douglas Fire and Rescue, and Umpqua Valley Ambulance responded to the incident. A raft deployed by Central Douglas Fire & Rescue successfully retrieved Norton and brought her safely back to shore.

9-1-1 dispatchers then received a call just after 5:00 PM reporting a possible drowning in the North Umpqua River near 24.5 on Highway 138E. Some of the emergency responders attending to the first incident responded and learned that Vasquez had been swimming in the river when he went underwater, but did not resurface.

Vasquez’s body was later recovered by rescue personnel. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. DCSO expressed condolences to his family and extended their gratitude to all emergency responders and agencies involved in these incidents.