Search crews in Bonneville County were back on the Snake River early Friday morning, continuing efforts to locate an out-of-state man who fell into the water near the Broadway Street Bridge in Idaho Falls the previous afternoon.
The man, who has not been publicly identified, went into the river shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday. He had been visiting Idaho Falls with a co-worker and was looking at the falls from a rocky area when he lost his footing and fell in.
Challenging Conditions Slow the Search
Recovery teams from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Dive and Water units launched their initial search Thursday evening and returned to the river by 7 a.m. Friday, deploying multiple watercraft — including boats and jet skis — along with divers and sonar equipment.
The primary obstacle facing searchers is the river’s poor water clarity. Sgt. Bryan Lovell of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office described conditions as extremely difficult, stating that “visibility is near zero due to the water conditions deputies are currently experiencing.” Because of those hazardous conditions, divers have been relying on sonar guidance rather than visual searches, making the operation both slower and more technically complex.
An aerial observation was conducted by a sheriff’s detective and an Idaho Falls Police officer, providing crews on the water with an additional vantage point over the search area near the falls.
A Reminder of River Dangers Near Popular Areas
The stretch of the Snake River near the Broadway Street Bridge is a well-traveled area, popular with visitors and locals alike who come to view the falls. The rocks near the water’s edge, while scenic, can be slippery and pose significant hazards — particularly when the river is running high or fast.
This incident follows a series of public safety concerns in the region. Bonneville County has seen other workplace and outdoor incidents in recent weeks, including a weapon discharge at Idaho National Laboratory that left an employee hospitalized. Public safety agencies across the county continue to respond to a wide variety of emergencies as the summer visitor season picks up.
The victim’s name and home state have not been released by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, pending notification of family members.
What Comes Next
As of Friday morning, the search remained active. Bonneville County Sheriff’s dive and water teams were expected to continue operating through daylight hours, using sonar technology to systematically cover sections of the river where the man may have been carried by the current. Authorities have not indicated when or whether the search effort might be scaled back, and conditions on the Snake River will likely remain a significant factor in determining how quickly the operation can progress.
Residents and visitors are reminded to exercise extreme caution near the banks of the Snake River, especially in areas close to the falls where rocks and uneven terrain increase the risk of falls into fast-moving water. Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
For ongoing coverage of public safety and community news across East Idaho, visit our coverage of local emergency and health concerns affecting Bonneville County.