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Accident Database: Accident #539
| River: | Tuolumne |
| Section: | Main (lower) |
| Location: | Clavey Falls |
| Gauge: | 7500 |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | V |
| Accident Code(s): | Pin |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Kayak - Unknown |
| Number of Occupants: | 1 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Initial Report: | On June 1 Wil Haygood, a well-known Southern boater who had relocated to Salt Lake City, was killed on California's Lower Tuolumne River. (This accident did not occur on the Cherry Creek section as was first reported) The "T" was running high at 8,000 cfs/ This is big water, but not excessive for a strong party. Haygood missed his line at Clavey Falls, the only Class V drop on the river, and pinned frightfully against a narrow "flake" of rock. I've had reports of several other, similar pins in Clavey over the years. After 15 minutes his PFD, skirt, and the pillars from his boat started washing out. His body remained hidden. After a thorough search the group paddled out and notified authorities. Haygood's body was recovered the next day, over two miles downstream. |
| Report Status: | Completed |
