Accident Database

Report ID# 3654

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  • PFD Not Worn or Present
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  • One Boat Trip

Accident Description

 Middleton woman drowns in Wolf River July 09, 2012 1:30 pm

BILL NOVAK | The Capital Times | bnovak@madison.com

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_5d4d7540-c9f2-11e1-9e84-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz21bDcPfxd

A Middleton woman drowned in the Wolf River in Menominee County on Saturday. Her body was found in the river on Sunday. The Menominee County Sheriff's Office said Lina Maria Vergara Castaneda, 20, was rafting at Smokey Falls on the Wolf when she went into the water and failed to surface. She was not wearing a life jacket.

The drowning was reported at 5:34 p.m. Saturday; her body was discovered by divers at 8:10 a.m. Sunday. "Divers were unable to locate the victim by nightfall on Saturday due to the extremely dangerous water conditions," said Lisa Wilson, Menominee County public information officer.

Rescue teams from Keshena, Neopit, Middle Village, South Branch, Shawano and the Menominee Tribal Police helped in the effort to find Castaneda. Menominee County is in northeast Wisconsin. Smokey Falls is considered a class IV rapids, which is the most dangerous type of rapids, according to online rapids ratings websites. The Sheriff's Office news release did not say if Castaneda was rafting with others.

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News 3 Investigative Report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rjPmc799Fk

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