Accident Database

Report ID#67902

1999-05-21
accident date
Louis Gelato
victim
29
victim age
Musconetcong River
river
Near Riegelsville
section
Dam
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
VI
river difficulty
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
cause code(s)
n/a
injury type(s)
n/a
factors
Private
trip type
Whitewater Kayak
boat type
status?
status

Description

DAMS CIAIMS A JERSEY PADDLER Muscenetcong River; Reigelsville, N.J.; May 21, 1989 DESCRIPTION: Louis Gelato, 29, paddling with two friends in a 17 foot canoe, drowned after an attempted run of a dam near Riegelsville on New Jersey’s Class I-II Muscoenetcong River. All three were caught in the reversal; one was pronounced dead at the scene after being washed one mile downstream; another companion was hospitalized in critical condition two days later. SOURCE: Appalachian Mountain Club (NJ) “Paddle Splashes” COMMENTS: These incidents further illustrates the danger of low-head dams.