THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SPECIFY A BOAT! Locals say it was a bunch of inner tubes tied together.
From Wikepedia: "Dillon Falls starts off with 15-foot (4.6 m) drop, then becomes a steep and violent Class-5 rapids with a hazardously positioned tree in the center before ending as class 2 and 3." AW says "Dillon Falls consists of a 10-12 foot ledge that leads immediately into a 1/4 mile long canyon. Dillon is runnable year round, but the lines on the falls itself vary widely depending on the water level."
One dead, two missing after group goes over Dillon Falls on Deschutes River
Saturday, July 19, 2025
By Staff reports, Bend Bulletin, Bend, OR
Crews searched on Saturday for members of a party of six people who went over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River. Search and rescue operation continues west of Bend One person is dead and two others are missing after a group of six people went over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River west of Bend on Saturday afternoon.
Emergency crews responded around 2:57 p.m. after Deschutes County 911 received a report of the incident. Three people were rescued from the river and taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend. One person was found dead at the scene. As of Saturday evening, two others remained missing. Search and rescue crews from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Bend Fire & Rescue worked along the river into the evening. The search was expected to pause at sunset and resume Sunday morning if needed.
The Bend Police Department provided drone support, and AirLink assisted with an aerial search. Authorities have not released the names of the victims to allow time for family notification. Dillon Falls is a 15-foot waterfall followed by Class 5 whitewater rapids, and is considered dangerous to all but experts.
In 2022,Maximillian Zelaya, 41, died while floating over Dillon Falls in an inner tube.In 2018, a popular blind athlete from Bend, Nancy Stevens, and her father lost control of their canoe in the waters above Dillon Falls resulting in her father’s death.
Read more at: https://bendbulletin.com/2025/07/19/one-dead-two-missing-after-group-goes-over-dillon-falls-on-deschutes-river/
SEARCH AND RESCUE UPDATE: ONE ADDITIONAL VICTIM RECOVERED IN ONGOING SEARCH AT DILLON FALLS
Deschutes County, OR – The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) confirms that divers with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team located and recovered the body of a second victim shortly after 11:00 a.m. today. The female was found below Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River west of Bend.
Search and rescue operations continue in the area as one individual is still missing. A human remains detection K-9 has been brought in again today to assist. At this time, DCSO can confirm three survivors and two deceased females. One male member of the party is still unaccounted for. SAR teams continue to work diligently, using all available resources. Over the past two days, crews have utilized boats, drones, swift water rescue teams, and K-9 units to search, map, and narrow down high-probability locations along the river corridor between the Dillon Falls Day Use Area above the falls and the Aspen Day Use Area below the falls.
The 9-1-1 call reporting the incident was received at 2:57 p.m. on Saturday, July 19th. Since then, local resources have supported the efforts by the DCSO SAR team, including assistance from Bend Fire & Rescue, Bend Police Department, and AirLink.
Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Oregon
Dillon Falls Search Update
Search for the Final Missing Individual Continues at Dillon Falls With Additional Resources
Deschutes County, OR – Recovery efforts are ongoing today, in the search for the last remaining individual missing after six people missed the final takeout area at Dillon Falls on Saturday, July 19th. The group had been floating on inner tubes tied together before the incident occurred.
Investigators have learned that the three survivors jumped from their tubes and made it to shore, while the other three were swept into the main rapids. Dillon Falls is an extremely dangerous section of the Deschutes River, marked by a dramatic 15-foot drop and classified as a Class 5 Rapid. It features long, violent, and obstructed sections of whitewater with rocks, logs, and other debris that pose serious hazards even to experienced paddlers.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is now releasing the names of the two deceased victims:
- Amanda Lloyd, Date of Birth: July 16, 1985 – of Rockwall, Texas
- Lindsay Bashan, Date of Birth: January 3, 1992 – of Parkland, Florida
The name of the final missing individual will be released once they are located and next of kin have been notified. The identities of the three survivors are being withheld out of respect for their privacy.
Search operations remain active today. A Life Flight aircraft is flying with a DCSO Search & Rescue (SAR) diver onboard to survey the area from the air, while Portland Police Bureau has deployed a fixed-wing aircraft with specialized search cameras to assist. A K-9 team is also on scene, including the same dog that was instrumental in locating the victim Monday. If the final missing individual is not found today, side-scanning sonar will be brought in to assist with deeper underwater searches.
“This has been a difficult and emotional incident, and we can’t say enough about the professionalism and dedication of our Marine Patrol Unit, Search & Rescue Deputies, and SAR Volunteers,” said Jason Carr, Public Information Officer for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. “They have led a coordinated and effective mission under very challenging conditions, and their work has already helped bring answers and closure to two grieving families. We are confident they will continue doing everything possible to locate the final missing individual.”
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office asks the public to stay clear of the Dillon Falls area while operations are underway. Search teams follow a systematic, methodical approach that requires experience, training, and preparation. Public interference or unintentional disruption could slow recovery efforts and put the recovery at risk.
As summer recreation increases across Central Oregon, the Sheriff’s Office also urges everyone to take safety precautions when on the water: Know the water: Understand the river or lake you’re on and where it’s safe to launch and take out. Watch for posted signs and warnings. Wear a life jacket: Always have a personal flotation device (PFD) on you or readily available. It can mean the difference between life and death. Avoid alcohol and drugs: Impairment is a leading factor in many water-related incidents. Stay sober to stay safe.
Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes County Sheriffs Office officially confirmed the identity of the third and final individual from the July 19th Dillon Falls tragedy, as Derek Slesinger.After weeks of search and rescue operations, on August 21st, two kayakers exploring Lava Island Falls reported seeing a body in the rapids downstream from Dillon Falls. DCSO conducted a five hour operation with the help of Bend Fire & Rescue to recover the individual in an inaccessible, and swift water area.
Sleisinger of Delaware was visiting Central Oregon as part of a group of six friends on the weekend of the incident. Three individuals of the group survived, while Sleisinger along with two other individuals tragically died. The other two individuals are Amanda Loyd, 39, of Rockwall, Texas and Lindsay Bashan, 33, of Parkland, Florida. Sleisinger's mother, Diana Adames, met with Sheriff Ty Rupert, and asked for privacy from the public during this time, but offered heartfelt appreciate to the Sheriff's Office, detectives, and Search and Rescue Teams. Despite the heartbreak, she expressed to the Sheriff her gratitude for closure and the ability to honor her son's life.
