Accident Database

Report ID#68099

2008-06-27
accident date
Cynthia Lee Vontungeln
victim
n/a
victim age
Rogue (5. Grave Creek (Galice) to Foster Bar
river
5. Grave Creek (Galice) to Foster Bar (Agness)
section
Blossom Bar
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
N/A
river difficulty
Swim into Rock or Sieve
cause code(s)
n/a
injury type(s)
Other
factors
Commercial
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

by The Associated Press Monday July 07, 2008, 11:17 AM MEDFORD — A week after a California woman drowned in the Rogue River, emergency crews in Curry County were finally able to remove her body. Cynthia Lee Vontungeln drowned June 27 after her inflatable kayak hit a rock and capsized in the dangerous Blossom Bar rapids. Her body had lodged among rocks and rescuers weren’t able to reach it without putting their own lives in danger. But according to Curry County Sheriff John Bishop, natural forces loosened the woman’s body from the rocks and emergency workers were able to retrieve it Saturday. Bishop told the Medford Mail Tribune: “It was frustrating. We wanted to give the family closure. Now, we’re relieved.” Vontungeln, 52, of Irvine, Calif., was wearing a lifejacket.