Fremont County Sheriff's Office Capt. Don Pinover said the raft Hodges was in "went up on its side as it was going through some rough water." A press release issued by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office states that the raft "hit a stretch of rough water, causing five of the seven people in the raft to be tossed into the river."

The release states that four of the rafters were able to be assisted back into the raft, but "Hodges was apparently pulled under water for several minutes by the river's current before he surfaced and was pulled to shore by rescuers from the rafting company." Efforts to revive Hodges were unsuccessful, according to the release.

According to the release, "the accident occurred near the Salt Lick Recreation Site at MM 259, which is approximately 13 miles west of the Royal Gorge turn-off from U.S. 50."

The release identified the rafting company as Royal Gorge Rafting. The rafters were wearing their safety gear of helmets and personal flotation devices and two safety kayakers were accompanying the group of rafters, according to the release.

Fremont County Coroner Carlette Brocious said Hodges was accompanied by his family, and their raft was one of several part of the same group. She said Hodges was staying in Cañon City, and the group consisted of a girls softball team from Oklahoma that was playing a tournament in Colorado Springs.

According to the United States Geological Survey's website, the Arkansas River was running at 3,400 cubic feet per second at the time of the accident. Responding agencies include the FCSO, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Arkansas River EMS and American Medical Response Ambulance.