You are here

Details Surfacing in Fatal Snake River Rafting Accident

Share

    A few more details are emerging in connection with the fatal rafting accident that occurred on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park back in June.
    In documents obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information request, the raft guide, who hasn't been publicly identified, told investigators that his raft flipped after striking a tree that had been washed into the river overnight.
   
"After I had cleared the entrance (of the channel) I looked up and saw that a new tree had lodged in the middle of the channel, closing the left side of the channel," the guide wrote in a four-page report to investigators. "I started to back row as fast and as powerful as I could to get to the right side of the new tree but I was unable because the current was so powerful."
    The guide's version of the accident also details how he checked his passengers to ensure they had properly fastened their life jackets and his instructions to them on how to swim in the river if they fell out of the raft.
    The AP's report, which you can find here, also contains comments from five of the raft's nine surviving passengers and their praise for the guide's actions.
    Park Service officials say they might form a formal Board of Inquiry to further investigate the accident, but that usually happens six to nine months down the road.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.