Accident Database

Report ID# 1174

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  • Flush Drowning
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  • One Boat Trip

Accident Description

From mymotherlode.com

Search Continues For Missing Bay Area Girl

Sonora, CA -- At the noon hour the search continues for a 12 year old girl who disappeared after falling off an overturned canoe Monday afternoon in the Tuolumne River. Sgt. Matt Zelinsky reports that the rescue effort was resumed at 8AM today with the use of Black Hawk helicopter. In addition, a ground crew was clearing brush along the river bank for greater accessibility in the search effort. A boat patrol unit is also working its way up the river in an effort to locate the girl.

32 year old Paul Little Eagle Padilla of Antioch, CA entered the Tuolumne River with two of his own children, a six year old boy and a 12 year old girl along with the missing victim, in a 16 foot canoe near the bridge at Cherry Lake Rd. at the early intake powerstation. The swift current immediately took the canoe out from the shore where it overturned. Padilla and his two children returned to the riverbank safely, but his daughter's friend did not. Rescue efforts were started immediately and then halted because of darkness.

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