Woman pulled from American River near Auburn identified as 52-year-old by coroner
The body of a swimmer pulled Sunday from the confluence of the American River near Auburn after emergency personnel responded for reports of a drowning has been identified.
The woman was pulled from the river by Cal Fire personnel south of the Foresthill Bridge near the confluence of the American River’s north and middle forks just after noon, according to Sgt. David Smith, a spokesman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office identified the woman as Coralee Jo Smith, 52. According to public records, Smith was a resident of the Rosemont neighborhood of unincorporated Sacramento County.
According to dispatch audio reviewed by The Sacramento Bee, Smith’s body was recovered at 12:12 p.m.
What led to Smith’s drowning was not known but personnel from the State Parks, Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit, the Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol responded after a passerby called 911.
Water temperatures in the American River are running about 55 degrees in the area. First responders and other authorities have been cautioning residents from swimming in the capital region’s waterways during this time of year because of the cold temperatures and swift currents caused by this winter’s heavy rains and snow. Prolonged exposure to cold water can trigger exhaustion and hypothermia.
