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| Scott Neacato: Norwalk resident missing in river mishap. |
Saturday benefit planned to help support search and rescue expenses; Also missing is Minh Tu Nguyen, 24 of Westminster
Note: This is Breaking News from the Los Cerritos Community News Group. For more details, go visit: www.loscerritosnews.net.
By Randy Economy
Los Cerritos Community News
Staff Reporter
Norwalk-
Scott Neacato, a recent graduate of UCLA and former standout student and graduate of Norwalk High School has gone missing while river rafting in the Kern River.
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| Scott Neacato. Loved, and missing! |
Image via WikipediaThe popular 22 year-old native of Norwalk was visiting the river with friends during a weekend celebration on June 13 when he and a companion went missing while rafting in the choppy and aggressive rapids. Also missing with Neacato is his friend Minh Tu Nquyen, 24 from nearby Westminster. The pair was last seen in the river near Ant Canyon around 6:30 p.m. last Monday, June 13.The popular camping site is located about 10 miles north of Kernville, in Tulare County, it is a very popular location for college and university students to visit during spring and summer breaks.
Image via WikipediaAccording to friends, Neacato had just graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sociology two days prior to going missing.Due to the recent rains and huge snow pack this past winter in the Sierra Nevada’s, the Kern River is at its highest and most power level in recent memory.
According to interviews conducted by the LCCN, Neacato was camping with about a dozen friends when they tied a rope across the river and tied a raft to the rope.
The river appeared to be calm, and both Neacato and Nguyen were lying on the raft, when it broke away and surged caught into the rapids. The raft then flipped over, tossing both into the wild flow of gushing water.
The LCCN also learned that according to friends of the two, neither Neacato nor Nguyen was wearing life vests. Jenny Tran, a friend of both missing men, said the two “did know how to float” and that she remains hopeful that they will be found alive.
Image via WikipediaThe area where Nguyen and Neacato entered the river is considered by many locals to be “deceptively calm.” But, just down river some of the biggest rapids are formed that are listed in the category of “Class IV” and “Class V,” which ranks at the top of the danger scale for whitewater rafting experts.
Image via WikipediaThe area where Nguyen and Neacato entered the river is considered by many locals to be “deceptively calm.” But, just down river some of the biggest rapids are formed that are listed in the category of “Class IV” and “Class V,” which ranks at the top of the danger scale for whitewater rafting experts.Drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played any role in this case.
According to local officials in Kern County, the river was reportedly flowing at approximately 4,500 cubic feet per second at the time the two were last seen. Experienced swift water kayakers, who were in the area at the time the two went missing, helped to volunteer in the search efforts. By 8:30 p.m., just two hours after the two went missing the search was called off due to darkness. Their empty inflatable raft was spotted in the river according to a report in the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper.
Payush Chatta, 20, and a resident of Norwalk who has known Neacato for the past seven years. He joined nearly 20 friends and family members in trying to locate both men this past week in the Kern County area.
Image via Wikipedia“We organized search teams and covered a five mile area, looking under rocks in heavy brush along the riverbank, all the way down to Lake Isabella, with no luck,” Chatta said.Dina Wilson, Principal at Norwalk High School said Neacato was one of the top students when he graduated from Norwalk High School in the Class of 2007. “Scott was on top of the world when he attended Norwalk High School,” Wilson said. “Everyone loves Scott, and we cannot give up till he is located,” she added.
“We need to keep positive thoughts, but reality is setting in and we need to all rally together to help locate both of these men.”
In an effort to help raise funds to keep the search and rescue efforts active, a yard-rummage sale is being held this Saturday, June 25 from 7 a.m. to 12 noon at the Norwalk High School campus located at 11356 Leffingwell Road in Norwalk. The community is invited to attend and support the efforts. For more information on the fundraising effort, interested parties are urged to call Norwalk High School at (562) 868-0431, ext. 4117.
6 comments:
I am so so upset about this. I hope Scott is found and that this is all a nightmare.
Went to UCLA with BOTH of these two GREAT GUYS. Hoping for a miracle.
I was close to the Neacato family for a length of time and I know how wonderful of a person Scott is. For anyone reading this... please do all you can to help support both of the families of these two men. My prayers are with them and my heart breaks for the turmoil they are experiencing while their boys remain missing. I pray for the best...
-Jessica; Norwalk, CA
Randy, I just watched the Norwalk City Council Meeting to hear about this from Councilman Vernola. Still in shock over the news. So so sad.
I cannot imagine the pain these two families are going through. Keeping BOTH in my PRAYERS. Thanks for posting this information. Wonder why no other media outlets are following this tragic situation.
Ifeel very sad, i'm a mom and just thinking that it could happend to anyone makes me want to help,my prayers are with them and hope for a miracle.
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