Accident Database

Report ID#67458

1995-07-03
accident date
2 unidentified men
victim
0
victim age
Nooksack
river
n/a
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
V
river difficulty
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
High Water
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

DOUBLE RAFTING FATALITY ON THE NOOKSAK DESCRIPTION: This report involves a group from the naval base in Bremmerton, Washington. They were running the Nooksak River on July 3, 1995 using good-quality rafts and used PFD’s. They encountered a nasty strainer that had flipped four out of four commercial boats the previous week. One boat portaged; the other attempted the run. Two men were killed. SOURCE: Posting to Rec.Boats.Paddle ANALYSIS: High water and logs in the river are a deadly combination. If boater’s can’t stop easily on a high water run extensive scouting is necessary. Avoiding a strainer is often harder than it looks, so caution is advised.