Accident Database

Report ID#68787

2023-09-07
accident date
Unidentified Man
victim
n/a
victim age
Tieton River
river
1. Rimrock Reservoir to Windy Point Campground (Upper)
section
diversion dam
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
III+
river difficulty
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
cause code(s)
Other
injury type(s)
One Boat Trip
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

Group of 4 flipped and swam the diversion dam. this is a dam that is run by almost every user, and has been altered to be navigatable. He had extensive whitewater experience and was in wetsuit with helmet and pfd. The dam has been sticky this year for some reason and has caused more than a usual amound of flips and loooong surfs. I wasn’t there for this incident, but it should be included on this page, as this run is infamous for people taking way to casually. it is a flooded river bank with tons of wood, and swims can become deadly in a hurry as a result. Yakima county sherrifs office should have better details on this incident- please do fact check, as my info is second hand. Four passengers on capsized raft make it out of Tieton River JASPER KENZO SUNDEEN Yakima Herald-Republic Sep 8, 2023 Two people were injured when their raft went over a diversion dam on the Tieton River and capsized Thursday afternoon, according to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office and Naches Fire Department swiftwater rescue team responded to the incident off U.S. Highway 12, west of Trout Lodge, said Casey Schilperoort, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. Three men made it to shore on their own, and one had a cut on his head. A woman was pulled out of the water by a bystander and was taken by helicopter to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital, Schilperoort said. As of Friday afternoon, he was unsure of her condition.