Accident Database

Report ID# 3373

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  • Equipment Trap
  • PFD Not Worn or Present
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Accident Description

The above-referenced accident occurred above Spring Creek Boat Ramp, however the drowning occurred below the Spring Creek Boat Ramp.  People at the boat ramp saw Mr. Merrill float by chasing his boat.  It was a drift boat and not a raft and he was guiding a commercial fishing trip at the time.  He was also wearing waders.

Angler still missing

By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Date: September 3, 2010

A fishing guide and fixture of the Teton Valley, Idaho, angling community remained missing Thursday after his boat capsized the day before on the South Fork of the Snake River, a law enforcement official said. The Idaho river starts downstream of Palisades Dam, about 25 miles southwest of Jackson, and is a popular fishing destination for valley residents and visitors.

Victor resident Robert Merrill, 49, was guiding two clients on a float trip from the Husky Gas Station to the Spring Creek boat ramp on the upper reach of the river at about 6:25 p.m. Wednesday when the boat capsized near the confluence of the South Fork and Rainey Creek, officials said. The collision knocked Merrill and his two clients into the water. All three boaters were not wearing life jackets, officials said. The clients escaped the river near the accident, but Merrill continued downstream.

Merrill, who was wearing rubber chest waders at the time of the accident, is an employee of outfitter Three Rivers Ranch and the Three Rivers Ranch Orvis Fly Shop in Driggs, Idaho. “They were up against the bank where [the river] goes right next to the road and hit a ... tree and capsized,” said Sgt. Karl Casperson, a member of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Aquatic Rescue Team. The clients were Florida residents Robert George and Barbara Roberts, both of whom are in their early 60s, the sheriff’s department reported.

After the boat flipped, George was able to reach the river bank. “The woman and Rob were still floating down the river,” Casperson said. “[George] ran across a couple of islands and caught another boat.” While George was attempting to find Merrill and Roberts in the second boat, Roberts was able to “point her feet downstream and work her way towards the bank,” Casperson said, explaining that she was wearing neoprene waders, which may have helped her stay afloat. “[Roberts] last saw Rob floating along with the boat,” Casperson continued. “She indicated [Merrill] was in distress and that was the last she saw of him.” Roberts and George were treated by Swan Valley, Idaho, ambulance personnel and released. At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, officials dropped the river’s water flow from 8,000 cubic feet per second to 6,000 cubic feet per second to aid in the search.

A short time later, an Air Idaho Rescue helicopter from the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center arrived to look for the guide. The boat was found submerged Thursday morning roughly a half-mile downstream of the Swan Valley bridge, about a mile and a half from the accident site. Divers concluded that Merrill was not with the boat. As of Thursday afternoon, 37 rescue personnel from Bonneville County Search and Rescue, the Bonneville County Sheriff Office Aquatic Rescue Team, the Jefferson County Dive Team and Idaho Fish and Game were assisting with the search using four boats and four personal water craft. Dogs were also being used in the search. The search area extended from the accident site three miles downstream to the Conant boat ramp. “We’re still eliminating a lot of possibilities,” said Casperson, adding good visibility is aiding in the search.

Merrill recovered near Heise Bridge on the South Fork
September 03, 2010 
 

Officials recovered the body of Rob Merrill 

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Sgt. Karl Casperson said today, that the body of Rob Merrill, the 49-year-old fly fishing guide, was found this afternoon between the Heise Bridge and Twin Bridges on the South Fork of the Snake River, almost 30 miles from where his boat capsized Wednesday evening near the Spring Creek Boat Ramp in Swan Valley. Casperson said a private fisherman found the body along the banks of the river and called Swan Valley dispatch. Jefferson County Search and Rescue responded to the call as they were already en-route to assist with recovery efforts Friday.

Casperson said the body was recovered around 12:30 p.m. Friday afternoon and a positive identification was made around 3 p.m. Casperson said the body was taken to Eckersell Funeral Home in Rigby, the nearest mortuary, for formal identification. Merrill’s family had been notified.

This morning, search and rescue crews were back at the Spring Creek boat ramp early this morning, searching for the Victor resident. According to Casperson, the search included a 24-mile stretch of the Snake River on the South Fork extending from the South River Lodge near the Conant Boat Ramp in Swan Valley down to Byinton Boat Landing, 25 miles east of Idaho Falls.  he emergency teams had been reduced to 12 Bonneville County search and rescue personnel, and two deputies with the Jefferson County dive teams arriving in the afternoon, said Casperson.

Air Idaho flight crews searched the mile and half stretch of the Snake River Thursday afternoon looking for Merrill who was last seen Wednesday evening after his drift boat capsized near the Spring Creek boat ramp. Air Idaho is not anticipated to participate in the search effort today.

Efforts to recover Merrill ended Thursday evening around 8:30 p.m. picking back up this morning at 6:30 a.m. As of Wednesday, Sept. 1, Bonneville County Search and Rescue were searching for the missing Victor man on the Snake River after the drift boat he was piloting overturned Wednesday evening in Swan Valley.

Merrill was guiding two clients on a fishing trip on the South Fork when his boat became caught up in a snag in the river and overturned near the Spring Creek boat ramp. Both clients made it to safety, but Merrill was swept downriver and disappeared, according to witnesses.

The initial 911 call came in to dispatchers at about 6:25 p.m. The Swan Valley Fire Department was the first to arrive on the scene, and the first boat rescue resources arrived within 15 minutes to begin the search.

About 50 rescuers responded with jet skis and boats Wednesday evening. At about 8 p.m. Wednesday, search and rescue teams determined they were dealing with a probable drowning and switched from rescue to recovery operations, which continued until the search was called off for the evening at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Recovery efforts resumed at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Officials dropped the level of the Snake River from 8,000 to 6,000 cubic feet per second to help in recovery efforts. Bonneville County Air Rescue search a section of the river between the South Fork Lodge and the scene of the accident, about a mile and a half up the river, and search dogs are working the banks. The drift boat was found submerged under about five feet water, upside down, officials said. The Jefferson County dive team searched the vessel but did not locate Merrell. 

Merrill’s clients, Robert George and Barbara Roberts, are Florida residents in their sixties. George was pulled from the water by fly fishing guide in another drift boat while Roberts was able to make it to shore. Casperson said Merrill was wearing rubber waders. None of the capsized boat's occupants were wearing personal flotation devices, he said. George and Roberts were treated and released by Swan Valley EMS.

Merrill is the manager of Three Rivers Fishing in Driggs and a seasoned fly fishing guide for Three Rivers Ranch.

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