Woman, 20, Drowns Trying To Wade Across American River
AUBURN, Calif. (AP) - Officials say a young woman drowned as she tried to cross the American River on foot in Northern California's Auburn State Recreation Area.
Auburn State Recreation superintendent Mike Schneider says three young women had crossed the river on foot and made it safely across. But on the return trip one woman slipped in a rapid, in knee-deep water and was swept downstream Friday.
Schneider says that after searching the river for about two hours, a dive team recovered the woman's body about 250 yards from where she went into the water.
Early Saturday afternoon, the Placer County Sheriff's Office identified the woman as 20-year-old Antelope resident Ashley Jenkins.
Schneider says the confluence is popular with swimmers but the water levels fluctuate, and the bottom is uneven, with rocks, tree snags and other debris that can trap people.
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