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Report ID# 10498

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Accident Description

Hopewell woman killed in James River

canoeing accident in Buckingham

 

Richmond Times Dispach

June 22, 2017

 

A Hopewell woman died in a canoeing accident on the James River in Buckingham County on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Deborah G. Stacil, 58, died after her canoe got stuck sideways in swift-moving waters and overturned, trapping her underneath, officials said. Stacil was freed by three passersby who attempted to perform lifesaving methods to resuscitate her.

She was airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center. A spokesperson for the game and fisheries department said it was not clear if she died on the scene, in transit or at the hospital.

Stacil was in the canoe with another woman at the time of the accident. No one else was injured.

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, June 21, 2017

A 58-year-old Hopewell woman died in a boat accident reported Tuesday afternoon on the James River about two miles south of Howardsville between Buckingham and Nelson counties in the vicinity of Hathcock Lane.

According to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Outreach Director Lee Walker, Deborah G. Stacil was with another female in a canoe on swift moving water at approximately 3:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Walker said the canoe got caught sideways and then pushed up on a log.

 

The canoe then began to fill with water and overturned, trapping Stacil under the canoe, Walker said.

Three people were able to cut the canoe free and retrieve Stacil, according to Walker.

Walker said CPR was administered to Stacil, who was transported by medflight helicopter to the University of Virginia Medical Center. 

The accident came the evening those participating in the James River Batteau Festival were set to camp in Howardsville.

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Published 9:00 am Wednesday, June 21, 2017

A 58-year-old Hopewell woman died in a boat accident reported Tuesday afternoon on the James River about two miles south of Howardsville between Buckingham and Nelson counties in the vicinity of Hathcock Lane.

According to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Outreach Director Lee Walker, Deborah G. Stacil was with another female in a canoe on swift moving water at approximately 3:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Walker said the canoe got caught sideways and then pushed up on a log.

 

The canoe then began to fill with water and overturned, trapping Stacil under the canoe, Walker said.

Three people were able to cut the canoe free and retrieve Stacil, according to Walker.

Walker said CPR was administered to Stacil, who was transported by medflight helicopter to the University of Virginia Medical Center. 

The accident came the evening those participating in the James River Batteau Festival were set to camp in Howardsville.

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BUCKINGHAM Co., Va. (WSET-TV Lynchburg - Roanoke - Danville, VA) The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is investigating a fatal boat accident on the James River, according to WVIR. Officials say it happened on Tuesday in Buckingham County. The department says units are still on scene

According to officials with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Deborah G. Stacil, 58, of Hopewell was killed.

They say she and another woman, who has not yet been identified, were in a canoe on the swift moving water in the James River near Hathcock Lane in Buckingham County around 3:25 p.m.

They say the canoe was caught sideways and pushed into a log. According to officials, the canoe began to fill with water and overturned, trapping Stacil under the canoe.

They say three individuals were able to cut the canoe free, get Stacil, and give her CPR. They say she was medevacked to UVA Medical Center.

The Department says the incident is still under investigation, and other updates will be released as new information becomes available

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