Shortly before noon on Saturday, June 28, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing Glendale man at the Live Oak Picnic Area, in the Kern Canyon on Highway 178. The man, identified as Gonzola Acosta, 35. He was with his family and went into the Kern River to help his daughter who was having trouble returning to the riverbank. The father managed to assist his daughter to the bank but he was swept away. The family, planning for an idyllic day by the river, lost sight of Acosta just west of the Live Oak Picnic Area. The Kern County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit and the Kern County Fire Department responded and began their search for the missing father.

As of 8:00 p.m. the missing man had not been located. The operation was suspended as night fell and resumed in the early morning hours on Sunday.

Within a few hours another swimmer was reported missing from Black Gulch South campground area. The man, an insulin-dependent diabetic, was last seen floating downstream near the beach area and his family called for help. After scrambling to assemble another Search and Rescue Unit to look for this victim, a rarely-seen 'happy ending' was in sight. According to the man’s family, he said he had become lost and had a difficult time finding his way way back to their campsite. 'That is one lucky man,' said Kern River Valley Search and Rescue volunteer. 'That’s the way we like ’Äòem.' On Monday, still another possible drowning was reported. An 18-year-old man fell in the Kern River near Cow Flat Creek and has not been located, either. Search and Rescue teams will continued to comb the area for any signs of two missing men.

The public is urged to use caution while traveling on Highway 178, through the canyon, as several of the turnouts and parking areas near the Live Oak Picnic Area will be occupied by Search and Rescue vehicles.

Last week, the Kern’s first victim of the year lost his life tubing in Hart Park. He was a no-swimmer. When he fell from his innertube, he could not help himself. His body was recovered the following day.