November 16, 2023 9:30 a.m.

One man is dead and a second victim is presumed drowned after an incident in the South Umpqua River on Monday.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said shortly after 1:00 p.m. 911 dispatchers received a report of two men who were trying to cross the South Umpqua River on foot when they lost their footing and fell into the water near Kendall Street, just north of the Douglas County Fairgrounds. O’Dell said witnesses reported observing both men go under water and not resurface.

Responders from DCSO, Douglas County Fire District No. 2, Roseburg Police Department, Roseburg Fire Department, and Umpqua Valley Ambulance arrived on the scene and began searching.

O’Dell said one of the male victims was located deceased on the riverbank. His identify is being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification. Divers from DCSO attempted to locate the second victim, but were unsuccessful after two days of searching. O’Dell said efforts to locate the second victim are still ongoing.