Tragedy struck in Southern California Wednesday afternoon when two young siblings enjoying their time with their mother were swept away by the rapid current in a San Bernardino Mountains creek.
The 4-year-old girl and her 2-year-old brother were spending the afternoon with their mom at the Thurman Flat picnic area on Highway 38 in the area of Mill Creek when the girl was taken downstream.
“The mother searched for but could not locate her,” Police said.
“When she returned, her son was missing and assumed to be down river as well.”
After frantically trying to find her two children, the woman requested the help of another family but to no avail.
Rescuers from several agencies responded to the scene at around 4 p.m. and located both children.
However, the siblings couldn’t be revived and they were declared dead at the hospital shortly later.
Authorities in California regularly urge residents to beware of the state’s rivers and streams during spring snowmelt that make the current more fast-flowing.
