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Accident Database: Accident #1077
| River: | Ausable |
| Section: | Keeseville to US Route 9 |
| Gauge: | 3.5 ft |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | IV |
| Accident Code(s): | Entrap. (No PFD) |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal |
| Age: | 28 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Inexperienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Raft |
| Boat Model: | Inexpensive One-Man Raft |
| Number of Occupants: | 3 |
| Number in Group: | 3 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Summary: | On June 5, 2006, 3 local men put on the Ausable River above Keeseville in Essex County, NY in solo inflatable rafts. The river was running medium high to high after several days of heavy rain. This section is not normally considered a whitewater run as it is mostly flatwater and class 1. There are several larger drops just above and in Keeseville that are in the class 4 range. This section is not listed in the AW rivers database.
2 were rowing the rafts and the third was using a double bladed paddle made of single bladed oars taped together. None were wearing PFDs. It is not known if alcohol was involved.
At around 6 PM, approximately 2 miles below where they had put in, they came to a class 2 section. 2 of the rafts flipped and the rafters swam into a class 3 ledge drop that had a wave/hole at the bottom. The third raft and rafter made it to shore before the ledge drop. 1 swimmer grabbed a raft at the bottom of the drop and flushed out. The other swimmer, 28 year old Mark Dragoon of Peru, NY did not resurface. He is presumably drowned and his body had not been located as of 6/15/06.
Ben Bramledge
|
| Report Status: | Completed |
