Petaluma teen discovered useless in Truckee River close to CA-NV line

Authorities on Monday recovered the body of a 19-year-old man who went missing after entering the Truckee River over the weekend near the California-Nevada state line.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office identified him as Brian Marcellino Gallardo, 19, of Petaluma. He had been with friends when he entered the water Saturday near the Floriston exit along Interstate 80.

Family members said the incident happened about 3 p.m. when Gallardo was “shocked by the cold water and struggled.”

Search and rescue crews began looking for him Saturday afternoon, with efforts continuing through Sunday and Monday. The operation included K9 teams, drones, helicopters, swift water rescue teams, rescue swimmers and ground searchers on foot.

Gallardo was ultimately located Monday by divers with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, authorities said.

Neighboring agencies — including Truckee police and fire, the El Dorado and Placer sheriff’s offices, California Highway Patrol’s air operations and Cal Fire — assisted in the search and recovery.

Authorities said the river’s water temperature was about 44 degrees, creating dangerous conditions for anyone entering the water.

In a social media post, a family member described the moments leading up to the incident, saying the group from the Santa Rosa area had been hiking near the river after traveling to Reno to visit a friend. They went on a trail off Exit 199 when they reached an area where the water appeared calm.

The relative said Gallardo “appeared to have been shocked by the cold water and struggled.” Another man jumped in to try to help before Gallardo was “carried away by the current.”

Amid warm temperatures in the Sierra and runoff from melting snowpack, officials urged the public to stay out of fast-moving, cold water.

“While it may feel like summer, melting snow is causing rivers and streams to rise and flow rapidly,” Nevada County deputies said. “Water temperatures remain cold enough to cause immediate cold shock and hypothermia.”

On Sunday, family and friends of Gallardo launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for his funeral expenses. By 4 p.m. Monday, the fundraiser had collected $7,800 in donations.

“The costs of saying goodbye are overwhelming, and we want to ensure that Brian’s family can focus on healing without the added burden of financial stress,” wrote Paris Nuth, the father of Gallardo’s girlfriend, who was with him when he was swept away by the current.

“Brian was a very well-mannered young man who was full of life,” Nuth wrote. “In the short period of time that he had come into my daughter’s life, he brightened her world. He was charismatic, ambitious, kind, and deeply loved by those who knew him. Brian wanted to better himself, not just for his own future, but for my daughter as well. He had goals he wanted to achieve, which were sadly cut short by this tragic event.”

This story was initially printed March 23, 2026 at 1:48 PM.