Mattawa man drowns in irrigation canal
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks, 5 days AGO
An 18-year-old Mattawa man died early Sunday after falling into an irrigation canal near Mattawa. Grant County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman strongly suggests residents stay away from canals whenever possible.
FILE PHOTO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | August 10, 2026 3:35 PM
MATTAWA — An 18-year-old Mattawa man died early Sunday after falling into an irrigation canal while trying to free a vehicle that had become stuck in a canal chute in rural Grant County, authorities said.
Johnny Sanchez Mendoza was driving near the 7900 block of Wahluke Slope Road Southwest when his vehicle became lodged in a concrete irrigation canal chute, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
As Sanchez and a passenger attempted to push the vehicle free, Sanchez fell into the canal and was swept away by the fast-moving water, authorities said. Rescue efforts followed, and his body was later recovered about a half-mile downstream. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Grant County Coroner's Office took custody of the body. An autopsy will be conducted, and Sanchez's family has been notified, officials said.
The incident prompted renewed warnings from the sheriff's office about the dangers of irrigation canals, particularly during the summer months.
Grant County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said canal roads are generally private property, owned and maintained by local irrigation districts and are not designed for public travel.
"There are no guardrails around irrigation canals because they're private property," Foreman said. "There is no safety features built into them to prevent vehicles from going off the roadway because they're not intended for traffic to go on them."
Foreman advised motorists to avoid canal roads whenever possible and to use extreme caution if they must drive near them.
"If your vehicle ends up in an irrigation canal, roll down your windows and try to get out of the vehicle before it goes into the water, if you can," he said.
Foreman noted that Grant County has seen multiple fatalities over the years involving vehicles that entered irrigation canals and were carried downstream by strong currents.
Officials also cautioned against using canals for recreation. While canals can attract people seeking relief from summer heat, Foreman warned that they are not intended for swimming or other recreational activities.
"The best advice is stay away from irrigation canals," Foreman said. "If you get caught up in an irrigation canal, chances are rescuers aren't going to be able to reach you in time."
The death remains under investigation.
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