Three men drowned accidentally when their truck was swept away in the Sooke River: BC Coroners Service

A report from the BC Coroners Service finds three men drowned accidentally when their truck was swept away in the Sooke River west of Victoria last February.

The report examined the deaths of 20 year olds Eric Blackmore, Cory Mills and AJ Jensen and says the three were likely "puddle jumping" driving their pickup through large pools of standing water in the parking lot of Sooke Potholes Regional Park.

The coroner says the trio did not realize one of the pools was actually a flooded arm of the river and the force of the water swept the truck down river and prevented the men from escaping.

The mangled truck was found wedged in trees after the water had receded while the men's bodies were later pulled from the river, and the gate to the park has been closed overnight since then.

The coroner says vehicle access should also be limited during periods of high water or flooding.