1 dead, 5 rescued after being swept away in current in Ontario; search continues for 4 others still missing
Ontario Fire Department crews are still searching for at least four missing people who were swept downstream during a heavy rainfall.
At least 10 people living at a homeless encampment were swept downstream by a current Tuesday morning near a wash located on the 1200 block of E. 4th Street. They are estimated to have traveled at least three and a half miles during the incident.
Firefighters managed to rescue five others that were swept away, two of which were rushed to nearby hospitals, while one refused medical treatment at the scene.
One person was found deceased in the water during Tuesday's search, Ontario FD announced.
As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still scouring the water of a flood channel that began at Philadelphia Street and Baker Avenue and ended at 4th Street and Grove Avenue for four people who were still missing after a swift water rescue team could not locate them the day prior.
Ontario FD said this is an ongoing incident and is urging people to clear the wash for emergency personnel.
Rescue teams could be seen searching the area with sonar equipment and prodding through the shallower bits of water to see if they could locate a body.
Witnesses explained that up to 10 people at a homeless encampment were swept away by the heightened current.
"The water came very quickly and swept them into the actual storm drains," said Ontario Fire Department Chief Ray Gayk. "The danger of these storm drains that are here in our city and a lot of places up and down Southern California - they're straight up-and-down wall type of flood systems. If someone gets in there, that type of water moving that fast, extremely difficult to get out of there."
Ontario fire crews were assisted by Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department, Chino Valley Fire Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department as they searched for the missing people on Wednesday.
They concluded their search at sundown, but intended to resume operations come Thursday morning.
