Further investigation revealed that a hard blow to the right temple probably caused his death. There is no way that a stunned or unconscious paddler could survive a swim in the North Fork, and this injury might have proven fatal on its own. Turner's helmet was a popular lightweight plastic model, and this accident should reminds us of the need for heavy, full coverage helmets when running rapids of this magnitude.

The North Fork of the Payette in southern Idaho is one of the premier Class V runs in the country. With a railroad on one side and a highway on the other, the riverbed contains more shallow, sharp rocks than you might expect. On July 12, 1998 it was running at 1700 cfs, a moderate, yet quite challenging level. Lucas Turner, 22, had run the North Payette several times before. He was running the river with six other paddlers when he flipped in a big hole in Taffy Puller and failed to roll. He was last seen alive while swimming just above the Golf Course. Rescuers reported evidence of a massive head injury to the right temple area. Paddlers believe that he hit his head during the roll or the subsequent swim.

SOURCE: Vince Thompson; Roger Lynn; Gill Turner, Lucas Turner’s father

ANALYSIS:  This river is extremely rocky and powerful The rapids are vert hallenging, and even good boaters get flipped. Those who plan to run it need the very best helmet they can find.