Accident Database

Report ID#66702

2001-07-14
accident date
Carlos Gonzales
victim
24
victim age
John Day
river
1. Service Creek to Clarno (Upper John Day)
section
Burnt Ranch Rapid
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)
Other
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

Gary Marsh reported that Carlos Gonzales, 24, died on the John Day River near Mitchell, Oregon on the afternoon of July 14th. Witnesses said that the man and his friends were running Burnt Ranch Rapid (II) repeatedly in a small raft. Mr. Gonzales had just finished a run and was wading the raft to shore when he slipped beneath the surface and did not reappear. A dive team responded and quickly recovered the body. The BLM, which manages the area, does not require adults to use life jackets. A river ranger who tried to educate Mr. Gonzales’ group ran into a language barrier and was probably not understood. River managers might consider providing their staff with an English/Spanish phrase book to cover situations like this.