Two bodies recovered in Sonoma County waters, causes under investigation
By Anna Armstrong
Two bodies were recovered from Sonoma County waters on Saturday in the wake of an atmospheric river that pounded the region for days.
Just before 9 a.m., Santa Rosa police received a call from a community member who reported a possible deceased person in Piner Creek while on a walk. Santa Rosa Fire personnel found a man in the creek just south of Guerneville Road and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of his death remains unknown, police said, but because of the lack of information it is being investigated by the SRPD Violent Crimes Investigations Team.
The man is believed to be in his mid-60s, police said.
Just before 11:30 a.m., a bystander called REDCOM dispatch and reported that a vehicle was trapped in floodwaters near Mays Canyon Road and Highway 116 in Guerneville, with at least one possible occupant inside, the department said in a Facebook post.
Deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and personnel from Sonoma County Fire and Monte Rio Fire recovered the body of a person believed to have drowned in their vehicle.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of first responders.
Earlier Saturday, experts said the worst of the atmospheric river, which brought intense rainfall, flooding and road closures, has passed..
Flood levels in the Russian River are still in the minor flood stage, peaking at 32 feet on Saturday morning, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported. Flood levels were expected to taper off Saturday.
This device is unable to display framed content. Click here to view this embed.
This device is unable to display framed content. Click here to view this embed.
A brief lull in showers was expected in Sonoma and Napa counties on Sunday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Brayden Murdock said.
Other local rivers and streams that were at a higher flooding risk were also cresting Saturday, Murdock said. Flooding from some creeks is still possible.
Wet weather also prompted the closure of more roads in Sonoma County Saturday, including Fir Road in Monte Rio, Mays Canyon Road in Forestville and Neeley Road in Guerneville, according to the county.
For a complete list of road closures in Sonoma County, visit: pdne.ws/4g1eQAT.
Map of current road closures on Sonoma County-maintained roads
This device is unable to display framed content. Click here to view this embed.
Over the past several days, the North Bay has seen substantial rainfall totals, with areas like Venado receiving more than 22 inches of rain. Santa Rosa, Murdock said, was hit with more than 12 inches, the most for the city in a three-day period since the weather service began keeping records on June 1, 1902.
Rain is also expected Monday and Tuesday but the totals will not be significant, he said.
This is a developing story.
Distributed by Tribune News Service.