325 people have died in the Kern River
From 1968 to 2021, 317 lives were lost in the so-called “Killer Kern.” Friday’s updated tally is up to 325, an additional eight lives lost in 2022, according to KCSO search and rescue sergeant Joe Saldaña.
n a joint effort with the Kern County Fire Department, search and rescue units will be assigned staging points in Hart Park, Kern River and in Kernville. Search and rescue teams have also been conducting weekly exercises to find access points and will also be patrolling up and down the river to be readily accessible in the event of a call out this Memorial Day Weekend.
Although several notices warning visitors to not jump into the Kern River have been posted, Saldaña said many people rarely take the advice.
