New York Man Drowns at Popular Mid-Valley Swimming Spot

Scotts Mills Park is a Marion County park located 23 miles east of Salem.

Scotts Mills Park is a Marion County park located 23 miles east of Salem. Photo Courtesy: Marion County Sheriff's Office

(SCOTTS MILLS, Ore. ) - The Marion County Sheriff's Office has identified the man who tragically drowned at a popular swimming hole at Scotts Mills Park on Tuesday.

30-year-old Ralph Johnson III from New York had recently moved to the Portland area.

Johnson's death came one day after 14-year-old Sean Kaleopa of Salem, who had just celebrated his birthday on July 4, drowned while swimming at the three pools 45 miles east of Salem.

Original Story:

Just one day after a young teen from Salem lost his life in a drowning at three pools east of Salem, another man has lost his life tragically on Tuesday evening in a drowning at Scotts Mills Park.

Salem-News.com was on scene, and witnesses said a man in his 30's drowned near the parks falls near a popular swimming hole on Butte Creek.

Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sergeant Chris Baldridge told Salem-News.com on scene that there was a fatal drowning at the park at 5:45 p.m. Deputies learned that the male was swimming with a friend, began struggling against a current and drown. CPR was performed by first responders but he was unable to be resuscitated.

Scotts Mills Park is a Marion County park located 23 miles east of Salem.

As Salem-News.com was first to report just after 3:00 p.m. on Monday, emergency responders and the Marion County Sheriff's office responded to a fatal drowning at the three pools day use area on the North Fork of the Santiam River which is located 17 miles up from Ore. Highway 22, and 45 miles east of Salem.

The Marion County Sheriff's office positively identified the boy who tragically drowned as 14-year-old Sean Kaleopa of Salem, who had just celebrated his birthday on July 4.

Video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

Salem-News.com will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available.

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