Accident Database

Report ID#64075

2023-07-15
accident date
Multiple
victim
n/a
victim age
Weber
river
Henefer to Taggarts
section
Croyden Bridge
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
II
river difficulty
Other
cause code(s)
Other, Near Drowning
injury type(s)
Inadequate Equipment, Other, Inexperience
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

Croyden bridge is creating a serious public safety hazard for river users. Witnessed multiple people miss the takeout for the portage at Croyden bridge and get flushed under the bridge and require rescue on the other side. Most were tubing and didn’t have enough time or react quickly enough to make it to the river right exit above the bridge and the bridge height above the water level forced people off/out of their tubes and down under the bridge before surfacing in distress on the downstream side where groups who had portaged were extracting the swimmers from the current and helping them recover once on the shore. Fortunately, the flow at this level only flushed people under the bridge, but there are still pillars and bridge structures that could pin/wrap a swimmer as they pass under water below the bridge. At higher flows, the height of the bridge relative to the water would create a significant strainer hazard if someone where to swim thru the bridge. Related news storyhttps://www.ksl.com/article/50674598/kayakers-temporary-bridge-over-weber-river-is-too-low-dangerous