A boater on the Scioto River in Ohio provided authorities with a photograph that may be the last image of five people who drowned last weekend. Marcus L. Martin stated he photographed five adults wading in waist-deep water near a low-head dam while he was boating with his family. Martin reported that he felt concerned for the group's safety due to the river's conditions but did not witness the drowning.
Local authorities confirmed that five adults, all identified as Honduran nationals, drowned in the river near the Greenlawn Avenue dam in Columbus. The victims were part of a larger group visiting the area. Rescue teams recovered the bodies over the course of the following days.
Low-head dams, like the one where the incident occurred, are known by water safety experts to create powerful recirculating currents that can trap swimmers. The Columbus Division of Police is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Family members of the deceased have been notified, according to officials.