YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — The deaths of three young people who were swept over a 317-foot waterfall in Yosemite National Park serve as a reminder of the deadly and alluring beauty of the raging rivers and streams across the West after a record winter snowfall.
As temperatures rise, the melting snow has engorged waterways, causing flooding and sometimes tragic consequences.
Witnesses to the Yosemite tragedy describe the traumatizing image of a young woman slipping on a rock above the raging Vernal Fall and two friends falling in trying to save her.
In an instant, a carefree photo opportunity turned horrific as the swollen Merced River swept the trio over the edge.
Other water accidents have turned deadly this summer. Across the West, fast-moving water has claimed the lives of rafters, kayakers, swimmers and even some motorists in recent weeks.