In Forks, man feared drowned found safe at home

FORKS — Searchers discovered with relief early Saturday afternoon that the man they feared had drowned in the rain-swollen Bogachiel River was alive and well in his Forks home.

“It did come to a good ending, and we were all very happy,” said Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

“We don’t look at these things as a wild goose chase. That’s not what it’s about.”

The Forks Police Department found Juan Jeronimo-Ortiz, 18, at his home in Forks at about 12:30 p.m., more than six miles from the point at which the car he was in was swept into the river near Bogachiel State Park, Cameron said.

“They really did a good job helping us out,” he said of the Forks police.

At the time, some 20 to 25 members of the sheriff’s rescue team and Clallam County Fire District No. 3 firefighters equipped with underwater cameras were scouring the river banks for signs of Jeronimo-Ortiz, while a helicopter crew had been launched from Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles to help in the search.

The search began at about 7:30 a.m. when Melanie McCarty, who was also in the car, phoned 9-1-1 to say that she couldn’t find Jeronimo-Ortiz after she escaped from the submerging vehicle.

McCarty, 43, of Neah Bay, was treated and discharged from Forks Community Hospital, possibly for hypothermia, Cameron said.

McCarty and Jeronimo-Ortiz arrived in the car, which belonged to another Forks resident, to the banks of the river sometime after midnight, Cameron said.

They parked underneath the U.S. Highway 101 bridge, fell asleep, and awakened to find the car quickly filling with water.

Jeronimo-Ortiz pushed McCarty out of the driver side door, but the door slammed shut before he could follow, Cameron said.

McCarty told authorities that Jeronimo-Ortiz was in the car when it submerged.

“She was very upset,” Cameron said.

Through interviewing Jeronimo-Ortiz, deputies learned that he escaped through a window.

Cameron said that Jeronimo-Ortiz probably walked home, but because of a language barrier, law enforcement officers were unable to fully substantiate if that was the case.

Jeronimo-Ortiz is from Guatemala, Cameron said, and likely speaks a Mayan dialect.

No one else was in the car.

It remained unclear how the vehicle ended up in the river.

Cameron said it could have rolled into it while they were asleep or perhaps the river, rising because of recent rainfaill, surrounded it.

He said the river had stopped rising Saturday because of a break in the rain, but that people should still be cautious.

Firefighters from the Sequim district assisted because they have technology, such as an underwater camera, that was useful in the search, Cameron said.

________

Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Port Townsend to test sewer system with smoke, dye

The city of Port Townsend will test its sewer… Continue reading

JUMP! Playground to close for renovations

Jefferson County Parks and Recreation will close the JUMP! Playground… Continue reading

Barcy Fisher, left, and Patti Buckland have been selected as the 2024 Marrowstone Island Citizens of the Year.
Fisher, Buckland honored as Marrowstone Island citizens of year

Barcy Fisher and Patty Buckland were named Marrowstone Island’s 2024… Continue reading

About 700 people from Jefferson and Clallam counties spill out from the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse onto Jefferson Street in Port Townsend on Monday to take part in a National Day of Protest organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds protest actions of Trump administration

Activists cite USAID, worry about Treasury, impacts of immigration

Peninsula to welcome Canadian visitors

Celebration of Coho passengers planned

Fish barrier removal to impact highway traffic

Portions of roadway to have long-term closures

Cheryl Gertsch of Sequim, left, talks with Krista Meyers, project manager with Cascadia Solar of Port Townsend during the annual Home Building, Remodeling and Energy Expo on Saturday at Sequim Middle School. The event, hosted by the North Peninsula Building Association, featured a variety of booths, displays and presentations dedicated to home construction, repair and improvement. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Building expo

Cheryl Gertsch of Sequim, left, talks with Krista Meyers, project manager with… Continue reading

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass on display on the pier in Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
The golden hour

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass… Continue reading

The state is looking to turn Miller Peninsula, a 2,800-acre undeveloped park east of Sequim, into a destination state park with a visitors center, cabins, picnic areas and more. Some locals oppose the move. (Warren Wilson)
Opponents want park to stay day use

State updates plan for Miller Peninsula

Sequim staff plan to send a proposal to the state this month to potentially fund sewer and water lift stations on West Sequim Bay Road using new developments’ property taxes through a Tax Increment Area by Sequim Bay in a 363-acre area. It would require the city to prove that developments in the area wouldn’t happen without the stations. The city council also would have to approve it. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim exploring funding mechanism to incentivize development

City would create district, repurpose tax dollars for lift stations

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster