A man went missing after being swept away by the ferocious current of the Delta-Mendota Canal last week, as reported by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. Lester Ashcraft, a 56-year-old local, was reportedly fishing with friends near Grant Line Road on the night of May 31 when he fell into the canal around 9:51 p.m. Immediate attempts to save Ashcraft by those present proved futile against the strong southbound current that quickly carried him away.
Witnesses and loved ones told the deputies that Ashcraft lost his footing on a steep embankment, leading to the fatal plunge. In the urgency of the moment, the group's rescue efforts were thwarted by the relentless force of the water. According to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office statement, the Water Authority reduced the canal's current from its treacherous 3500 cubic feet per second to a more manageable 900. However, this measure still rendered search conditions too dangerous for divers.
A coordinated search involving multiple agencies, including air and UAV teams and ground patrols, was launched but failed to locate Ashcraft. Efforts continued into the following day with negative results. The grim reality is that this will become a mission of recovery rather than rescue, dependent on the whims of the canal's current. Ashcraft has been entered into the Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and information about the incident has been shared with law enforcement agencies nearby.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office extended its gratitude to the agencies and units that toiled in this tragedy—the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, Alameda County and Livermore Pleasanton Fire Departments, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Unit, among others. With warmer weather beckoning more people to bodies of water, the office cautions the public of underlying dangers. They advise practicing safety measures such as wearing a life jacket, avoiding alcohol and substances, steering clear of water under unknown conditions, especially for non-swimmers, and staying informed on local advisories. No new updates have been released regarding Ashcraft's status.
