Accident Database

Report ID#64223

2019-07-04
accident date
Matthew Spates
victim
n/a
victim age
Poudre River
river
n/a
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
n/a
water level
II
river difficulty
PFD Not Worn or Present
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Cold Water, High Water, Inadequate Equipment
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

A 26-year-old man involved in a tubing accident on the Poudre (POO’-dur) River in northern Colorado has died. Poudre Fire Authority officials say eight people were rescued off a small island in the river in LaPorte on Thursday, and a ninth was found in a tree in the river. One was flown by helicopter to the hospital, where he died early Friday morning. Debbie Reisdorff, Larimer County’s deputy coroner, identified the victim as Matthew Spates, of Fort Collins. His death has been ruled an accidental drowning.