‘It’s very dangerous’: Officials update death toll number for the Killer Kern
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The number nobody wants to see go up is the sign at the mouth of the Kern River Canyon.
Still, every year it’s updated to reflect the number of lives tragically lost in the Kern River. It’s a somber task Sgt. Joe Saldana doesn’t look forward to.
“Every year it’s painful to put new numbers up on here,” said Sgt. Saldana. “That number does not reflect those that are still actively missing.”
10 deaths were added to the sign Thursday, bringing the total to 335 drownings in the Kern River in the past 56 years. For Sgt. Saldana, the answer is easy and that is to stay out of the river.
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“I believe it is a misconception,” said Sgt. Saldana. “There’s some areas where people may look at the water and believe that it’s calm, but it’s not, it’s very dangerous underneath. There’s undercurrents that will take people under.”
The work never seems to stop for Search and Rescue crews.
“It’s extremely difficult to each of us, because we want to bring closure to the families of those that went and those victims who have drowned in the river,” said Sgt. Saldana. “I hope next year I don’t put up any numbers on the board.”
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