Accident Database

Report ID#67842

2022-06-25
accident date
Donovan Forsythe
victim
26
victim age
St. Joseph River
river
n/a
section
Dam within the boundaries of the City of Three Rivers
location
moderately low
gage
n/a
water level
N/A
river difficulty
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
cause code(s)
n/a
injury type(s)
Inexperience
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

Fatal drowning of Donovan Forsythe, 26, visiting location from residence in Princeton, NC. Recreational boat trying to navigate riverwide lowhead dam. One fisherman (unidentified) was witness. The account from news media and local officials was very scant. A public statement was released from Three Rivers documenting the incident date and estimated time. Body was later itendified after later recovery. (Copies of documents/links are attached) The dam is clearly marked upstream, and has cable/buoy warning device.I tried to get information from the local police detective, identified in the City’s release, but received no answer to my inquiry on whether Mr. Forsythe went over the dam, or whether he lauched below the dam, if a pfd was worn or not, nor if there had been any recent storm damage to the warning cable/buoy. Looking at picture taken that day in article, it is likely that the turbulent water described by the witness was the dam itself. Facebook link from Three Rivers: https://www.facebook.com/3riverspolice/posts/pfbid036evzWA5vJaujHajkHiXDRbjY2CJ3NgkCLKVHMUvnPXMbbKQN5k9kh9HTqhWwpqyklMedia article on recovery (shows water level at base of dam) https://wwmt.com/news/local/police-identify-body-missing-kayaker-st-joseph-river-donovan-forsyth-county-fabius-park-drowning-three-rivers-michigan