Accident Database

Report ID# 3392

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  • PFD Not Worn or Present
  • Head Injury / Concussion
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Accident Description

 Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks wardens David Holland, left, and Travis Haworth carry a rubber raft that overturned in the Missouri River near Tower Rock State Park on Saturday. The accident led to the drowning death of a 68-year-old Helena man.

68-year-old Helena man drowns in Missouri River

By KARL PUCKETT • Tribune Staff Writer

September 5, 2010 A 68-year-old Helena man drowned Saturday afternoon in the Missouri River, 35 miles southwest of Great Falls, after his rubber raft capsized, authorities said. Lt. Bob Rosipal of the Cascade County Sheriff's Office said the man's name would not be released pending notification of his family. Four people, including the victim's wife, were in the raft when it overturned after striking a bridge pillar, Rosipal said. Three of the people in the raft were able to swim to shore, but the man was discovered unresponsive a half-mile downstream.

None of the people in the raft had life jackets on, according to Rosipal."They got him out," Rosipal said. "Unfortunately, he died."Authorities were called to respond to a possible drowning victim at Tower Rock Road at 3:36 p.m. Saturday. Tower Rock Road is located off the Hardy Creek exit of Interstate 15, across the interstate from Tower Rock State Park.

Kendall Kalnbach, chief of Cascade Volunteer Fire and Rescue, said at the scene that the raft began spinning and capsized underneath an I-15 bridge spanning the river.The body of the victim was discovered near an island by the other members of the party, Kalnbach said.The other rafters yelled for help, and people in passing watercraft stopped to assist, Kalnbach said.At one point, a dozen people were on the tiny island, including first responders, passersby and the people from the capsized boat, he said. Boats were used to ferry people to and from the island, which is a short distance from shore, Kalnbach said.Extensive efforts to revive the man on the island failed, he added.

The Cascade County Sheriff's Office, the Town of Cascade Search and Rescue, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the I-15 Quick Response Unit and a helicopter team from Benefis Health System responded to the emergency, Kalnbach said.After arriving on scene, Cascade County deputies interviewed shivering witnesses wrapped in blankets and towels, or wearing heavy coats.

Two FWP officials carried the rubber raft away from the river."It's aggressive and fast," Roberta Tilleman, a volunteer with Cascade Fire and Rescue, said of the Missouri River. "It's not the usual conditions for this time of year."It was the third drowning on the river between Hardy Creek and Great Falls in the past two months.

Helena drowning victim identified as Carroll professor

Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:11 PM by KXLH (Helena)

The man who drowned in the Missouri River near Hardy Creek on Saturday afternoon has been identified as 68-year old Jerry Pohlman of Helena. Pohlman was a professor of Economics and the chair of the Business, Accounting, and Economics Department at Carroll College. According to Fire Chief Kendall Kalnbach of the Cascade Volunteer Fire Department, Pohlman and three others were rafting near Tower Rock State Park at around 3:30 Saturday when their raft hit a column on the I-15 bridge and capsized. None of the occupants in the raft were wearing life jackets. Three of the rafters made it out of the water, but Pohlman apparently hit his head on a rock and drowned. Crews were able to pull him out about 1/8 mile down the river, where he was pronounced dead on scene.The other occupants were treated for possible hypothermia by Great Falls Emergency Services.

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