Accident Database

Report ID#69408

2003-06-22
accident date
Brian Tomasa
victim
37
victim age
Raritan
river
near New Brunswick, NJ
section
n/a
location
5 ft above normal
gage
High
water level
II
river difficulty
Unknown
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
High Water, Solo Paddling
factors
Private
trip type
Whitewater Kayak
boat type
status?
status

Description

The body of a kayaker who disappeared while paddling New Jersey’s Raritan River on June 22nd was found early the following morning. Brian Tomasa, 37, was paddling alone. Although the section near New Brunswick, NJ is a popular class I-II run, it was running 5 feet above normal. No one knows exactly what happened, but there are several dangerous low head dams on the run as well as numerous strainers, bridge piers, and other obstacles in the relentless current.