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Accident Database: Accident #101

River: Deer Creek
Section: Bond Road to Susquehanna River
Location: Riverwide Log
Water Level: Medium
Difficulty: II
Accident Code(s): Tree Pin
Injury Code(s): Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal
Age: 14
Experienced/Inexperienced: Inexperienced
Private/Commercial: Private
Boat Type: Open Canoe
Number of Occupants: 2
Number in Group: 12
Number of Victims: 1
Detailed Description:

BOY SCOUT PINNED UNDER A LOG

 

Deer Creek near Bel Air, MD: April 24, 1994

 

Gradient - 11; Level - moderate; Classification I (III)

 

 

DESCRIPTION: Deer Creek flows through the woodlands, farms, and estates of the hill country just north of Baltimore . It's a delightful novice canoe run with just one difficult drop. A group of 12 Boy Scouts and adult leaders launched their canoes into Deer Creek at Eden Mill Park on an early Sunday morning April 24th. All were wearing life vests. A few miles downstream they safely passed through Rocks State Park and its short class III rapid.

 

 

At around the five mile point, near

Grier Nursery Road
, they encountered a tree stretching across the width of the river. The lead canoe landed sideways and portaged the log. The second boat containing Justin Sappington, 14, and another boy flipped. The other boy washed under the log. Sappington stood up in the river. He initially appeared safe, but then washed into the swamped canoe which was pinned underneath the log. He was then trapped against the bottom.

 

 

The group first tried to help Justin by grabbing his arms, but the canoe held him under. It took all the Scouts and their leaders, using a fence rail, to pry him free. He had been under water about six minutes. They began CPR, and were later relived by the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. They did get a pulse, but he was pronounced dead about three hours after the accident

 

 

SOURCE: Baltimore Evening Sun

 

 

Conclusions:

ANALYSIS: It is extremely dangerous to land on the upstream side of a strainer. Even though the current here was not exceptionally powerful, it was strong enough for to hold the boy under water.

 

Report Status: Completed