The name of the victim that was swept away as he tried to cross the wash has been identified as Samuel Rosales, a 42-year-old Las Vegas man. The name of the second victim that was swept away as he tried to assist Mr. Rosales, is Rodwal E. Garcia, a 31-year-old Las Vegas man.
At this time the Clark County Coroner is still investigating the cause of death. When the cause has been identified, the Coroner’s office will release that information.
This is all the new information we have at this time.
Background:
On Monday, June 18, NPS Rangers and Metro Search and Rescue personnel recovered the bodies of the victims:
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At about 3 p.m., the body of Mr. Rosales was recovered about ½ mile south of the point last seen.
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At about 5 p.m., the body of Mr. Garcia was recovered less than 100 yards (this is an estimate) from the point last seen.
At about 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 17, a call for help came into the NPS Dispatch Center reporting two men had been carried away by fast moving water in Las Vegas Wash. Two men and one woman had been fishing on the banks of the wash when one of the men tried to cross to the other side. A witness reported he appeared to be in some sort of distress and was carried away by the fast moving water. The second man entered the wash in an attempt to help the first man. Both men were carried downstream by the fast moving water in the wash.
NPS Rangers attempted a swift water rescue when one of the bodies became visible. Unfortunately, they were not able to reach the body. Additionally, the Metro Search and Rescue Team was called in to assist in the search effort. Metro rappelled from their rescue helicopter into the wash in another attempt to reach a body but were not able to reach the body before it went under the water. Nevada Department of Wildlife Wardens also provided on-the-water support by searching in the area where the wash enters Las Vegas Bay. The search continued until rescuers ran out of daylight at about 8 p.m.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
