Founder and Managing Partner
California State Parks said the teenager was seen in distress in the Merced River at McConnell State Park. He wasn’t found and search efforts continue.
BALLICO, Calif. — The search is ongoing for a missing teenager along the Merced River.
California State Parks said a 17-year-old was in distress near the day-use beach at McConnell State Recreation Area around 8 p.m. Saturday. The person who called in the report ultimately lost track of the teen.
Deputy Michael Domingue, spokesperson for the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, said the teen was out with family on a kayak and wasn’t wearing a life jacket.
State Parks rangers and the sheriff’s office dive team searched the area, but they weren’t able to find him. The search picked back up Sunday with the same result.
The sheriff’s office is continuing search efforts for the missing teen, according to State Parks. Domingue said the water flow in the river has been an issue for divers. It increased to 3,500 cfs from 2,600 cfs over the weekend.
Due to the temperature of the water, the sheriff’s office closed access to the Merced and San Joaquin rivers toward the Stanislaus County line.
Warm weekend weather prompts hundreds to flock to rivers, water ways
[embedded content]