Ephrata dad still missing at Summer Falls canal
Herald Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 3 months AGO
GRANT COUNTY - A child's car seat and a fishing tackle box were recovered Monday from an irrigation canal near Summer Falls.
But there is still no sign of Scott Kolves, 45, of Ephrata, who is missing and presumed dead after his truck went into the canal with his three sons Sunday. One of the boys, Korey Kolves, 8, didn't survive.
Divers were out about 8 a.m. Monday to continue recovery efforts along the canal. A rescue boat was used to search upstream from the Summer Falls dam, where divers initially searched for Kolves. Emergency crews also walked the 3-mile canal shoreline in an attempt to find Kolves. Kyle Foreman with the sheriff's office said aircraft was called in as well. The search was called off Monday evening. Foreman said irrigation district officials and law enforcement will continue to monitor the area.
Mike Miller, 58, and his son Cameron Cox, 20, of Marlin, were out fishing Sunday afternoon about three miles up from Summer Falls when they noticed Scott Kolves backing up his truck and turning around on an access road that runs along the canal.
Next they knew, the truck was in the 90-foot wide canal. Miller said it appeared Scott Kolves was trying to get his three children out of the vehicle. All four were able to get outside the vehicle.
Miller said the two initially ran back up to their vehicle to call for help when Cox headed down the rocky embankment of the canal, yelling at the Kolves' family to try to swim to shore.
Partially in the water, Cox was able to rescue Kaden and Kyler Kolves while Miller called 911. Miller and Cox quickly lost sight of Scott and Korey Kolves.
Experiencing hypothermic conditions, Kaden and Kyler were taken back to Miller's truck, wrapped in coats and the heater turned on.
A sheriff's deputy and Fish and Wildlife Officer rescued Korey about 45 minutes later, about 100 yards from the Summer Falls dam, unconscious and not breathing. He was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake where he died late Sunday night. Kaden and Kyler were also taken to Samaritan with non-life threatening injuries and are expected to be okay, according to the sheriff's office.
"This is a heartbreaking and tragic loss," Sheriff Jones said, who was with deputies near Summer Falls Monday morning. "Our sincerest condolences to the family during the extremely difficult time."
In addition to sheriff's office search and rescue divers, responders from Grant County Fire Districts 5 and 12, State Patrol, American Medical Response and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife also responded.
Miller and Cox were still in shock over the incident, one that could have turned out even worse without the efforts of the two out at a regular fishing spot.
"I'm a father so I'm feeling for that little boy and his family," Miller said, calling his son a "brave man"for his lifesaving actions.
The Ephrata community was hit hard by news of the incident Monday morning. Scott Kolves was an employee at Ephrata High School. Korey Kolves was a second-grader at Columbia Ridge Elementary School and Kaden and Kyler both attend Parkway School. It's believed the Kolves family was out on a fishing trip Sunday.
The Ephrata School District issued a statement to parents and staff Monday morning:
"An accident like this is a tremendous emotional drain for the family and is very sad. Our hearts are heavy with grief and our prayers go out to all the families and loved ones."
Counselors were available to students Monday to help with the situation.
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