Body Removed From American River Marks Third Case This Summer

A body pulled from the American River just after 1:15 p.m. Tuesday marks the third such case Sacramento Metro Fire crews have responded to this summer.

Compare that number to the total number of bodies removed to last year and the statistic becomes even more remarkable, Sac Metro Fire assistant chief Walt White said.

"It's a 200-percent increase from last year," White said.

White is referring to the total number of bodies removed from the American River between the Memorial Day and Labor Day period. Last year, during that time one body was removed from the American River. This is the third body removed from the river this year.

After sending two boats into the water and a helicopter up, it was a Sacramento County Ranger who first spotted the body, which washed up on shore just upstream of the Watt Avenue bridge, White said.

The body is described as that of a white male, aged somewhere between 30 and 50, White said. The body had no identification on it. White also said there was no reason to believe the man had been wearing a life jacket.

White said the cause of death will be determined by the Sacramento County Cororner's office.