Touchet man drowns near Lyons Ferry

LYONS FERRY–A 21-year-old Touchet man drowned in the Palouse River near Lyons Ferry State Park Saturday after the small boat in which he and two other occupants capsized when weather created large waves.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, at about 7:39 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, two adult males and one adult female had been fishing in a small fishing boat on the Palouse River when the weather started creating waves. The small boat was capsized and the three occupants attempted to swim for shore. Two of the swimmers made it safely to shore, but 21-year-old Rojelio Saldana did not.

Due to rough water, high wind, and poor lighting conditions, searchers were not able to locate Saldana until the next day. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue recovered the boat and the body of Saldana on May 31, 2020.