Safety changes coming after Discovery Park-area drownings

Sacramento County officials said Monday they are planning changes at Tiscornia Beach after four people died off its shoreline so far in July.

County Supervisor Phil Serna said he’s asked the county parks department to install signs down by the water’s edge as early as next weekend.

“It’s going to be some very blunt language, strong language, that really attempts to impress upon folks that visit our parkways about the risk associated with entering the waterway,” Serna said.

For Joe Thomas, whose uncle drowned in the Sacramento River Sunday, the changes are coming too late.

Thomas came back to the accident site Monday, expecting to find searchers still looking for the 24-year-old drowning victim. Instead, he found people back in the water at the exact same spot.

“I kind of was taking it like it wasn’t really too much of a concern,” Thomas said. “I don’t see any type of sign up saying beware of this area, it’s dangerous, or anything.”

Thomas said his uncle, who is still missing and has not been identified by authorities, came to the beach Sunday for a family gathering.

About 1 p.m., the river pulled him under and he never resurfaced.

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