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Accident Database: Accident #603
| River: | Spokane |
| Section: | 2. Harvard Park to Mirabeau Park (Upper) |
| Location: | Bowl and Pitcher Rapids |
| Gauge: | 16700 |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | III |
| Accident Code(s): | L.S., Hypothermia |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 22 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Inexperienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Raft |
| Number of Occupants: | 4 |
| Number in Group: | 4 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Initial Report: | Lastly, on June 13 Dusty Lane, a gifted track athlete in his early 20's, drowned while rafting the Spokane River in Washington State. Mick French reported to rec.boats.paddle that this large class II-III river was running high at 16,700 cfs. The water was very cold. Lane, who had been tubing, climbed into the raft because he was cold despite wearing a wetsuit. The four other people in the raft, Ben Morin, David Morin, Nikolas Cottam, and Joel Cottam, had only one PFD between them, and alcohol may have been involved. When the boat flipped the others made it to shore. Lane was last seen floating downstream at Bowl and Pitcher Rapid. Inexperience, inadequate equipment, and lack of backup made the tragedy inevitable. |
| Report Status: | On Going |
