8 Children Drown as Raft Overturns Near Tijuana
Eight children drowned when a rubber raft carrying 38 people overturned during a weekend outing on the Rodriguez Dam reservoir, authorities said Tuesday.
Four bodies had been recovered through Monday and divers on loan from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department looked without success Tuesday for four others--all children. Divers were hampered in their efforts by strong winds that churned the water’s surface and limited visibility.
The raft tipped over Sunday during a sightseeing trip around the reservoir east of here.
Police said the accident was caused by overloading the craft. The raft was operated by the dam’s recreational department, Tijuana police said. Mexican authorities were confused Tuesday over what agency, if any, had granted a permit for the raft to be used on the reservoir’s waters.
Tijuana Municipal Police arrested Pedro Lopez, owner of the Aztec Paradise recreational area at the dam, and German Robles, 19, the guide on the raft.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
