Accident Database

Report ID#69673

2001-08-31
accident date
Howard Dickerson
victim
29
victim age
New
river
6. New River Gorge: Cunard to Fayette Station
section
Old 99 Hook
location
n/a
gage
Low
water level
III
river difficulty
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Other
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

West Virginia’s Class-IV New River Gorge was the scene of a low-water drowning on August 30th. Howard Dickerson, a 29-year-old raft guide, was paddling a high-performance inflatable kayak alongside two friends in a small raft. At Old 99 Hook (Class HI+) he ran a narrow side-slot. His kayak pinned against an undercut rock, and he was held underwater. His buddies saw the IK go under, climbed on top of the rock, and attempted a rescue. When their efforts failed, they paddled to the take-out and notified authorities. National Park Service river rangers located the trapped boat but darkness prevented a rescue. The next morning river rangers pulled the boat from the rock, allowing the body to float free. http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/69972http://www.prm.nau.edu/prm346/mod_11_lesson_issues.htm