Ephrata Teen Drowns Day Before Graduation

A community is in mourning after an teen who was set to graduate from Ephrata High School tonight (Friday, June 4th) tragically died Thursday evening while swimming with his friends in an irrigation canal.

Grant County Sheriff's Office PIO Kyle Foreman said 18-year-old Jesus Contreras slipped beneath the surface around 6:00 pm and his friends lost sight of him. Contreras' body was discovered by a Sheriff's Office drone an hour later about 100 yards downstream.

"Right now this appears to be a tragic accidental drowning." stated Foreman, "We extend our condolences to Jesus Contreras' family and friends."

The incident occurred roughly four miles south of Ephrata. Responders from Grant County Fire District 13, Grant County Fire District 5, Ephrata Police Department, Moses Lake Firefighters, and American Medical Response Grant County aided in the search and recovery effort.

Contreras' next of kin has been notified and an autopsy is schedule for Saturday. Foreman added that while it's not uncommon for kids to swim in irrigation canals in the Columbia Basin, the region's irrigation districts strongly discourage the behavior.