Deputies with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded Wednesday to reports of a drowning at Canby Community Park in Canby, Oregon, after calls came in from the busy Molalla River hangout. The agency announced the response in a news release on its official social feed and shared that it was a drowning incident, but offered few immediate details about the person involved or what led up to the emergency.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, the update went out under the headline "Sheriff’s Office responds to drowning at Canby Community Park" and included a link to a longer release. The brief post did not identify the victim or describe the circumstances. Officials say more information will be released later, and this story will be updated when that becomes available.
Where this happened
Canby Community Park sits on a bend of the Molalla River at 1348 S. Berg Road and features picnic tables, a fishing pond and easy river access. The park’s location and amenities are listed on the City of Canby website. Its riverfront setting makes it a go-to spot for swimming, fishing and laid-back picnics once the temperatures climb.
Recent river fatalities near Canby
The same stretch of the Molalla River has seen deadly incidents before. In August 2025, a 24-year-old Salem man drowned while swimming near Canby Community Park, as reported by KPTV. That response brought in multi-agency water-rescue teams and highlighted how cold water and shifting currents can overpower swimmers in a matter of moments. Local responders have repeatedly said the area demands caution, even from strong, experienced swimmers.
Statewide trends and safety advice
State and federal officials note that drownings tend to spike once the weather warms up, and a recurring theme is that many victims were not wearing life jackets. The Army Corps of Engineers has reported that a large share of drowning victims on its lands did not have life jackets on, while recent coverage citing Oregon Health Authority data points to dozens of accidental drownings statewide in recent years. Safety officials urge anyone heading to rivers to wear a life jacket, skip the alcohol and remember that fast-moving rivers carry more risk than pools or small ponds.
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s incident is asked to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. The department’s website lists non-emergency phone numbers and newsroom updates. We will share additional details as authorities make them public.
