Accident Database

Report ID#67941

1999-07-03
accident date
Teenaged Boy
victim
13
victim age
Snake
river
West Table Dock to Sheep Gulch (Alpine Canyon)
section
Lunch Counter Rapid
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
N/A
river difficulty
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
cause code(s)
n/a
injury type(s)
Cold Water
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

On July 3, 1999 a teenager on shore near Lunch Counter Rapid in Wyoming ‘s Snake River Canyon reportedly threw a dead fish at a group of passing rafters. The fish hit a woman in the face. Her boyfriend came ashore, grabbed the teenager, and pitched him into the water. The boy, who was not wearing a life vest, floated downriver for some distance before he drowned. The boyfriend is now facing manslaughter charges. SOURCE: Paddler Magazine; Doug Van Houten