Rogue River’s ‘Glow Flow’ Turns Into Nightmare as Dozens Are Trapped or Separated Overnight
JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. — The Rogue River ‘Glow Flow’ on Saturday ended in a nightmare for at least a dozen of the participants who were trapped on a large log after losing their flotation devices or failing to wear life jackets.
Officers from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, the Rural Metro and Grants Pass Fire Departments, and American Medical Response, arrived on the scene after receiving a report of a possible drowning at 12.16 a.m.
People Between the Ages of 5 and 47 Years Were Trapped On a Log
Several people between the ages of 5 and 47 years were trapped on the log at the Robertson Bridge Road and Lower River Road area, where hundreds of people were taking part in the ‘Glow Flow’ event advertised on Facebook.
The JCSO Undersheriff, Travis Snyder, stated that many participants had become separated from their groups and were reported missing. In a multi-agency task force effort, five people were rescued, and a further seven were assisted to safety.
He said that by the time the scene was cleared, all people reported missing had been located and accounted for.
“Several miles of the river were checked, and no other individuals in need of assistance were located. Medical personnel examined subjects on scene, and no one needed further medical care.”
The Rogue River Can Be Deadly, Undersheriff Warns
Snyder reminded citizens and visitors about the dangers of the Rogue River, which can prove deadly.
“Rafters and recreational users should always wear life jackets. We cannot express how dangerous a night float like this can be…not only was this event dangerous to those on the river and the rescuers who responded, it put the rest of our community in danger since most of our emergency responders tended to this incident for approximately three hours.”
The JCSO has cited 13 people for unsafe boating operation, two for reckless endangerment, one for disorderly conduct, and one for hosting an event without a permit.