A 20-year-old Hughson man died Monday after he began struggling in the water at Fox Grove Fishing Access, setting off a multi-agency search along the Tuolumne River. Oscar Arreola Arguello was later found in the water and pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office Facebook post, Arreola Arguello was with friends when he entered the water and began struggling, prompting a report of a possible drowning to the Stanislaus Regional 911 Center. Deputies, fire personnel, emergency medical crews and the Sheriff's Office air unit responded.
Fox Grove is a Stanislaus County recreation area on the Tuolumne River at Geer Road, with swimming, fishing, a boat ramp and about one mile of river frontage, according to the county parks department. The access is a popular spot for people looking to spend time along the river.
Search Crews Used Boats And Aircraft
Search teams located Arreola Arguello in the water, the Sheriff's Office said in its update. The agency's Special Vehicle Operations Unit launched a river boat to assist, while the air unit stopped aerial operations when fading daylight made them unsafe. Arreola Arguello was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The initial account did not provide additional details about what caused Arreola Arguello to struggle, whether anyone else was injured or whether a cause and manner of death had been determined.
Monday's death follows another fatal incident at the same access this summer. In June, 44-year-old Turlock man James Cagle died after entering the Tuolumne River at Fox Grove, according to The Modesto Bee. That report said authorities believed Cagle's death was accidental and urged water users to wear life jackets, avoid swimming alone, drink responsibly and watch for swift currents and hidden underwater hazards.
