On June 30, 1996 an outing on the Driftwood River near Columbus, IN turned deadly. Jeff Pruitt, 36, was paddling a touring kayak with his brother when they encountered a bridge construction area. The difficulty of the water was probably no more than Class II. No helmets were used, and the pair had stowed their PFD's inside their kayaks.

Pruett's brother made it through the bridge construction area, but Pruett himself flipped. He got his footing, told his brother he was OK, then slipped while trying to recover gear. Pruett, a strong swimmer, was last seen floating passively towards a downed tree where he disappeared. His brother tried to chase him in his kayak. When he could not find him he ran to the road, flagged down a motorist, and notified police. Rescuers found Pruett’s body underneath the tree.

SOURCE: Don Hewett; Columbia, IN Republic; ; Seymour, IN Tribune

ANALYSIS: (Walbridge) Construction sites are dangerous, and the river here may have been legally closed. In either case, it deserved careful scouting. If the victim had worn a life vest, however, he might have survived.