River Deceptively Dangerous : Rapids: The stream is dry during most of the year, but a heavy rainstorm can turn it into a killer.

For most of the year, the Santa Ana River is not much of a river at all.

But on those rare occasions when heavy rainfall causes water to run its course, it can become a killer--a fact illustrated by the death last Friday of Fullerton College student Bonnie Davis, who was thrown from a raft into the river’s rain-swollen waters.

Water levels along the 100-mile-long river during last week’s storm reached their highest mark since 1983, prompting Davis, her brother and a friend to embark on their tragic adventure.

Davis’ death isn’t the first to occur in the 30-mile portion of the river that runs through Orange County. At least four other people have drowned in the river since 1980 and two of those deaths occurred during rafting trips similar to the one taken by Davis and her companions.

Eleven years ago, four Cal State Fullerton students set out to ride the river’s rapids aboard a 12-foot rubber raft. Less than five miles into their trip, they were tossed into the rushing waters. Three of the students made it safely to shore, but 24-year-old Michael Thomas Ashton of Westminster was swept 1,000 feet downstream and later died.

Two days later, 21-year-old Glenn Murray of Fullerton and a friend went rafting in the river and were thrown into the water. Murray was carried downstream in the strong current and was found dead by rescuers.

All three groups were thrown from their rafts after plunging off 6-to-10-foot spillways designed to keep debris from flowing down the river.

“I don’t think people realize how dangerous the river is,” said William M. Reiter of the Orange County Environmental Management Agency. “They drive by a bridge and see a flat stream that looks very inviting. I don’t think people are aware of these spillways. If you’re on a raft and you’re floating down, by the time you’re upon one it’s too late. Once you drop, the water is very turbulent and it’s very difficult to get out.”

Not all recent drownings in the river have occurred during rafting excursions.

In 1986, divers found the body of 22-year-old Antonio Esparza, a Santa Man who accidently drowned while fishing with a friend. Police said Esparza was apparently trying to swim across the river for unknown reasons.

The year before, 6-year-old Sandra Mendez slipped into the river and drowned. The Anaheim girl and her 20-year-old uncle had taken off their shoes to enjoy the cool water during a hot day when the youngster fell in and was swept downstream.

Warning signs are posted along the river, but officials say that people still have to be told to stay out of the water.

“Just during the last storm, our patrols had to discourage at least 15 people from wading in the water or going into the water,” Reiter said. “I think there is a passive attitude from most people because they see a dry riverbed about 95% of the time. The river just doesn’t loom as very dangerous. I mean, we play golf at the bottom of it. So when the rains do come, people still don’t think it’s dangerous.”

Ronald D. Hamric, a battalion chief with the Anaheim Fire Department, agreed.

“I don’t think people make the connection that during a storm, the river has changed in character. It goes from a moderately hazardous condition to an extremely hazardous condition that would put even a strong swimmer in jeopardy.”

SANTA ANA RIVER TRAGEDIES

1969--Santa Ana police rescue five youngsters in two rubber life rafts 40 blocks from where the children first put in to the river.

1980 -- Four Cal State Fullerton students decide to ride the rapids of the rain-swollen Santa Ana River; three make it to safety, but one man is killed as the waters topple their 12-foot rubber raft. In a separate incident, a 21-year-old Fullerton man dies when his raft plunges over a concrete flood control drop and overturns; his companion survived.

1985--A 6-year-old girl drowns in a spillway in Anaheim after she slips and falls into the river. A passerby saves her uncle, who dove into the water after her but could not swim.

1986--A fisherman drowns after trying to swim across the Lakeview catch basin in Anaheim.

1991--Lured by raging waters of the Santa Ana River after three days of heavy rain, a 20-year-old Fullerton College student died after being thrown from her raft into the torrent.

Source: Jim Sleeper’s Orange County Almanac and the Los Angeles Times Library

Compiled by DALLAS M. JACKSON / Los Angeles Times