Accident Database

Report ID#69006

2003-05-25
accident date
Vaughn Jones
victim
0
victim age
Marsh Creek
river
n/a
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
IV
river difficulty
Flush Drowning
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Cold Water, High Water, One Boat Trip
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

On May 25th the water in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in central Idaho was running 6.5′ (8800 cfs), which is extremely high. A tree had fallen across Marsh Creek, a high-water tributary to the Middle Fork commonly used for early season access. A 15-foot boat was found pinned in a logjam. A raft apparently hit a rock bar and Vaughn Jones fell out of the back of the boat. While attempts were made to retrieve him, the raft drifted downstream and wrapped on a large rock. Mr. Jones disappeared and has still not been found. This was reported by Vince Thompson’s Idaho Whitewater Page. http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/394356