Accident Database

Report ID# 3751

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  • Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
  • Does not Apply
  • High Water

Accident Description

Doug Heym says: River level was 500 -1000 cfs is a bit pushy runnable-high runnable I-II(III) Unusually high, powerful flows. Caution is urged.

 

Follow-up information from initial report

from The Macomb Daily, 6/17/2013.

On Sunday, Shelby Township first responders and Macomb County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol personnel worked to search for a Sterling Heights man who had been missing since Thursday after embarking on a kayak trip originating at River Bends Boat Launch near Ryan and 22 Mile roads. The body of Oliver Dixon, 47, and his kayak were found Sunday afternoon under a log jam by workers from a nearby canoe rental facility. The workers were trying to clear fallen tree limbs and other debris that pose navigational challenges on the fast-moving river.

Dixon, who relatives said was an experienced kayaker, apparently planned to kayak from River Bends to Heritage Park in Utica for a weekend competition but never showed up. His family filed a missing persons report on Saturday and a search was launched. Investigators suspect Dixon’s kayak was overturned by the river current -- which was about 9 mph over the weekend -- and he was trapped against the shore by the pressure of the passing water and drowned.

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