From May 24 to May 31, there were three deaths in Idaho’s Payette River. Here is what happened

Authorities believe a man likely drowned in the Payette River over the weekend, making him the third person to die in the river since May 24.

Boise County Sheriff Scott Turner said two Eagle men were jumping into the river from rocks and a bridge Friday evening when one of them was swept away. The 24-year-old man was last seen near the West Boise Street Bridge, according to the sheriff.

“His friend tried to save him, but was unsuccessful,” Turner told the Idaho Statesman by phone. “He almost drowned.”

The sheriff said emergency responders quickly rushed to the scene after receiving a 911 call. The search team included two helicopters, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office and rafting companies local.

They searched until dark Friday and continued the search throughout the weekend, but without success, according to the sheriff. Turner planned to have divers search Monday, but an increase in river flow made things too dangerous.

“We’re evaluating this daily until the river calms down a little bit,” Turner said.

The disappearance of the man at Aigle was the third tragic accident to occur in Payette in a week.

On Friday, May 24, a man drowned when he was swept away by the current after jumping from the Alder Creek Bridge on the South Fork of the river in Garden Valley. Searchers didn’t find his body until the next day, Turner said.

The same day, a man died after his vehicle veered into the river around 12:30 p.m. on Idaho Highway 55 between Horseshoe Bend and Banks, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Turner declined to identify the names of those victims.

The sheriff asked the public to use caution around the river.

“There’s still a lot of snow up high that’s melting and flowing,” Turner said. “The river flows quite high, quite fast. People just need to be aware of their surroundings and be aware that river conditions remain dangerous.

He advised people still considering recreating to wear life jackets and pay attention to water conditions.