A fishing trip on the Scioto River ended in tragedy Sunday night when five adults drowned, leaving two young children orphaned. Two teens, Jordan Karhoff and Lauren Velazquez, discovered the distressed children on the roadside and provided comfort until emergency responders arrived.
Velazquez recounted rolling down her car window to check on the children, who then cried out, "Our parents are dead!" She described the children as shaking, with the young girl not wearing any clothes. Velazquez removed her shirt to cover the girl. Karhoff and Velazquez stayed with the children until first responders took over.
The deceased adults have been identified as Jose Mario Pineda Dias, 33, and his wife Marina Suyapa Regalad, 28, along with three friends. Honduran authorities confirmed that four of the five adults were citizens of Honduras, including two married couples.
The group had reportedly entered the water after one man began struggling. The other four jumped in to attempt a rescue, and all five subsequently drowned. The exact circumstances leading to the initial struggle remain unclear.
Data from a U.S. Geological Survey water gauge indicated the Scioto River was flowing at approximately 350 cubic feet per second on Sunday, more than double its average rate, suggesting strong currents may have contributed to the incident. Images from the scene appeared to show the group with fishing poles in thigh-deep water.
The two surviving children are currently in the care of Ohio family services. Arrangements are being made to reunite them with relatives in Honduras, a process officials estimate could take up to a month.