Relatives of family who drowned at Hagg Lake sue Washington County for $4 million [View all]

The relatives of four Hillsboro family members who drowned in Hagg Lake are suing Washington County for $4 million, saying the county failed to warn swimmers of dangerous conditions at the lake.

Three generations of the Garcia-Ixtacua family drowned on Aug. 25, 2014, while swimming at the Gaston-area lake. Fishermen found 3-year-old Jeremy Scholl's body floating. His mother, Gabriela Garcia-Ixtacua, 25; her 13-year-old brother, Michael Garcia-Ixtacua; and their mother, Jova Ixtacua-Castano,42, were later found nearby at the bottom of the lake.

The lawsuit, filed by Gabriella and Michael Garcia-Ixtacua's sister, Maria Garcia, on May 6, said the county knew the lake was unsafe for swimmers because of a deep trench causing a sudden drop-off near the wading area.

While wading in the lake, the children stepped into or floated above the trench then disappeared, the lawsuit said. Family members tried to rescue them but were also caught in the trench.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2016/07/relatives_of_family_who_drowne.html