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Accident Database: Accident #513

River: Kern
Section: Chamise to the Park
Location: Salmon Falls
Water Level: Medium
Difficulty: V
Accident Code(s): Swim to Entrapment
Injury Code(s): Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal
Age: 26
Experienced/Inexperienced: Inexperienced
Private/Commercial: Private
Boat Type: Raft
Number of Occupants: 3
Number of Victims: 2
Hazard Codes: Natural Strainer or Sieve
Initial Report: On August 1st nine rafters from Edwards Air Force Base made a fatal error while running a Class IV-V stretch of Upper Kern River in Southern California. AW's John Gangemi reported that the river level was moderate, about 1000 cfs. The rented raft was pretty big for the run. Rangers also felt it was overloaded, but the group continued despite warnings. Despite the difficulty of the run they were not wearing helmets. The raft blundered into Salmon Falls, a Class V+ rapid that the rangers warned them about and that outfitters normally portage. The raft flipped, throwing everyone into the river. Remarkably, most of the rafters washed though the big drop. Two people, Ralph Cheverine, 26, and Michelle Lopez, 27, disappeared. Two life vest and a single shoe belonging to Lopez appeared at the bottom, still closed, suggesting an underwater entrapment. Cheverine's body was recovered that day, but a week later Lopez's body was still missing.
Detailed Description:

The Chamise Gorge section of California ’s Kern River contains some solid Class IV-V drops separated by easier Class II-III whitewater. On August 1, 1998 it was running at a low 850 cfs. A paddle raft carrying 9 people from Edwards Air Force base blundered into Salmon Falls , a Class V+. They flipped in a nasty undercut chute on the left, and everyone swam.  Seven made it through, but  Ralph Chevarine, 26, and Michael Lopez, 27, did not. They probably became pinned in a boulder sieve somewhere in the rapid. The missing paddlers’ life vests appeared later, fully zipped and tied, floating in the pool below. A massive search involving divers and a helicopter failed to find any trace of the missing men.

 

 

SOURCE: John Gangemi, AW Conservation Chair; Bakersfield Californian; Fresno Bee

 

 

Conclusions: ANALYSIS:  (Walbridge) The group was not wearing helmets despite the difficulty of the rapids and did not scout a drop that many experienced paddlers carry. Commercial outfitters do not run this stretch. All this suggests that the group lacked the experience needed for this run. They should have chosen an easier stretch; there are several nearby
Report Status: Completed