Fish and Boat Commission Investigates Deadly Canoe Accident
Jul 29, 2014
By Lisa Adams
The PA Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the circumstances of a deadly canoe accident on Elk Creek Monday night. Waterways Conservation Officer Brook Tolbert says the waters of Elk Creek were high because of heavy rains on Sunday. Tolbert said 53-year old Michael Kohler, and 33-year-old Matthew Kaliszewski were riding that high water when they got into difficulty. The investigator said they did many things right, including wearing their life jackets, but their trip still ended tragically.
The pair put their 17-foot canoe into the water off of Sterrettania Road. They faced some strong currents because of the high water and they encountered what turned out to be a deadly obstacle, a fallen tree. Tolbert said it's what they refer to as a "strainer." It's any sort of debris that allows the rushing water to pass, while preventing a bigger object such as a canoe from getting by. The fallen tree was inside one of two tubes that carry Elk Creek under a rail trestle. According to Officer Tolbert, "They were canoeing the high water, they came across the tubes at the train trestle, they formulated a plain to avoid the strainer, unfortunately the current was so strong, the power of the water so strong, it capsized the canoe." Kohler managed to get out of the water and walk a mile for help. Rescuers were unable to find his companion before it was too late.
The PA Fish and Boat Commission says their advice to others heading out in a canoe is to use common sense and always wear a life jacket. In this case, the force of the water was so strong, even a life jacket was not enough to safe a life.
GIRARD -- Two Erie men who set out on a canoe trip down Elk Creek on Monday night traveled about 10 miles when they ran into trouble while entering a tunnel under railroad tracks in Girard Township. The canoe hit a fallen tree near the entrance of the tube and overturned, trapping Matthew J. Kaliszewski, 33, between the tree and the canoe, according to Pennsylvania State Police investigators. Michael J. Kohler, 53, tried to rescue Kaliszewski but couldn't because of the high water and fast-moving current. Kohler managed to swim to shore and walked about a mile to summon help, police said. Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook pronounced Kaliszewski dead at the scene at about 2 a.m. Tuesday. The death was accidental due to drowning, Cook said.
Daylight Reveals Scene of Tragic Canoeing Accident
Posted: Jul 29, 2014 11:21 AM EDT
