Subscribe

Bodies of drowning victims recovered

Man and teen were part of church camp

By
timestamp icon
category icon

The bodies of a man and teen were recovered Tuesday from the bottom of the main falls of White River Falls Day Use area east of Tygh Valley near The Dalles, Ore.

The victims have been identified as Jonathan Brett McLean, 26, of Portland, and Caleb Justice, 15, of Vancouver.

According to reports, Justice was part of a group from River Rock Church, which has locations in Camas and East Vancouver, and McLean was a counselor and volunteer.

According to Undersheriff Lane McGill, at approximately 2:18 p.m. on Monday a report was received that the two males tried to walk behind the main falls to take a photograph and slipped on the rocks into the pool at the base of the falls. Witnesses tried unsuccessfully to rescue them.

White River Day Use area is about four miles east of Tygh Valley along Highway 216. The day use area is closed to all access until further notice.