Five people are dead after several adults entered a river in Ohio to help a struggling swimmer, authorities said.
A search and rescue effort unfolded Sunday night, when a motorist noticed a “clearly distraught” child running along a state highway near the Scioto River, according to Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer.
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The driver called 911, and first responders pulled two women from the river, Balzer said. They were transported to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead, he said.
Authorities continued searching for three men believed to have also been in the water, recovering their bodies on Monday, according to Delaware County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tracy Whited.
Two sets of parents are believed to be among the group of five, Balzer said. One of the deceased is believed to be the person who was initially struggling in the river, according to Whited, who noted the incident remains under investigation.