Five people are now dead following an emergency Sunday evening along the Scioto River in Delaware County.
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office said Monday that just after 9 p.m. Sunday, a motorist on Riverside Drive in Concord Township near the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium saw a young child running along the road. The child was "clearly distraught."
The motorist called 911 to tell authorities that the child said his family was in the river.
Delaware County Sheriff Jeff Balzer updated reporters Monday morning.
"I understand that one person got in the river, was struggling in the water, two people went in to try to save them. Those people started to struggle in the river. Now we had two additional go in the water," Balzer said.
Balzer said they were not using a boat.
First responders pulled two adult women from the river Sunday. They were taken to nearby hospitals where they were pronounced dead.
The bodies of three men were recovered from the river on Monday.
The identities of the five people have not been released.
The two young children at the scene were taken to Delaware County Job & Family Services. Balzer said both are younger than 10 years old. He said he did not know if the children are siblings.
Balzer said people need to be safe when near or in the water.
"Any time near water, you need to be competent in you skills, or have some safety devices to be present. There's no shame in having a life preserver, having a life jacket or something like that," Balzer said.
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate.
