Accident Database

Report ID#67939

1999-06-01
accident date
Will Haygood
victim
n/a
victim age
Tuolumne
river
Lower
section
Clavey Falls
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
N/A
river difficulty
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
cause code(s)
n/a
injury type(s)
High Water
factors
Private
trip type
Whitewater Kayak
boat type
status?
status

Description

DESCRIPTION: the Lower Toulumne is a classic Class IV run in the California Sierras. At 8000 cfs, a high flow, the river is very fast with big waves and holes. The victim, Will Hagood, was a 15-year veteran paddler from Easley, SC and Salt Lake City, UT. On June 1, 1999 he was with a small group of expert paddlers in playboats. It was a beautiful day and everyone was doing well. Haygood was killed after he lost his line at Clavey Falls and became pinned on a small rock in violent current. After 10-15 minutes of pounding, his PFD, sprayskirt, and the pillars from his boat floated out. His body was recovered two miles downriver from where the incident occurred. The group paddled out and notified authorities. SOURCE: Doug Thompson, Chris Bell, Jeff McIntyre, Mark Jacobson, all posting to rec.boats.paddle ly. ANALYSIS: (Walbridge) High water makes for exciting paddling, but it the consequences of small errors increase substantial