Ephrata teen drowns in irrigation canal

EPHRATA — An Ephrata teenager died Thursday night, a day before his graduation, when he was swept away by the current in an irrigation canal about four miles south of Ephrata.

Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, wrote in a social media post Jesus Contreras, 18, was with friends, swimming in the canal at about 6 p.m. He went beneath the surface of the water and his friends lost sight of him.

“This incident appears to be a tragic accidental drowning,” Foreman wrote.

A drone from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office found Contreras’ body about 7 p.m., about 100 yards downstream from where he disappeared, Foreman wrote.

Responders from Grant County Fire District 13, Grant County Fire District 5, Moses Lake Fire Department, Ephrata Police Department and American Medical Response Grant County helped in the search and recovery effort, Foreman wrote.

An autopsy was scheduled for Saturday.