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Accident Database: Accident #887
| River: | James |
| Section: | 4. Upper James into Richmond |
| Location: | Williams Dam |
| Gauge: | 8 ft |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | VI |
| Accident Code(s): | Lowhead Dam |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 40 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Inexperienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Open Canoe |
| Number of Occupants: | 3 |
| Number in Group: | 3 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Hazard Codes: | Low Head Dam |
| Summary: | On April 9th three men paddled a canoe over Williams Dam on Virginia’s James River at high water. This low-head dam has claimed several lives over the past decade and warning signs were in place when the accident occurred. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, Arthur Suarez, 40, became caught in a powerful hydraulic and recirculated until he drowned. Two other men in the canoe survived. |
| Link: | http://tinyurl.com/7ts32 |
| Report Status: | Incomplete |
