MISSOULA - (KRTV) A Great Falls woman died over the weekend after drowning in the Little Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office reports that Lindsay Rice and another person fell out of a boat on Saturday, June 3rd. The two were pulled from the water and CPR was begun on Rice.
Rice, 31 years old, was taken to the Riggins High School football field to be flown to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead before transport. Authorities say the other party did not need medical assistance.
The Sheriff's Office reports that Rice's life vest came off in the water and may not have been properly secured. "Everyone needs to remember to use the proper equipment and take great care while recreating on our rivers, the water conditions remain hazardous," Idaho County Patrol Lieutenant and Dive Instructor Doug Ulmer said.
Here is the full text of the Idaho County Sheriff's press release:
On June 3, 2017 at 5:23 p.m. the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a possible drowning in the Little Salmon River near Highway 95 milepost 192.
Lindsay A. Rice, 31, of Great Falls, MT was riding on a Cataraft with another party when both subjects were spilled into the river. Both parties were retrieved from the river and CPR was begun on Rice.
Riggins Ambulance transported Rice to the Riggins High School football field where they were met by Life Flight who pronounced death. The other party was not in need of medical assistance.
Rice's life vest may not have been properly secured and had come off when she was in the river.
The victim was taken to Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville and family notification has been made.
Patrol Lieutenant and Dive Instructor Doug Ulmer said "everyone needs to remember to use the proper equipment and take great care while recreating on our rivers, the water conditions remain hazardous".
The Little Salmon River flows continuously as a Class III to IV during the snow melt runoff for about 25 miles. There truly are no pools in this river at the 4500 cfs it was running at the time. It is chocked full of boulders, huge waves, & holes.
Below is the Idaho County Free Press’ account of this accident, dated June 7, 2017:
RAFTING ACCIDENT CLAIMS WOMAN.
A Montana woman drowned in a rafting accident last Saturday, June 3, on the Little Salmon River. Lindsay A. Rice, 31, of Great Falls, Montana, was pronounced deceased by a Life Flight crew. The incident was reported at 5:23 p.m.on the Little Salmon River off U.S. Highway 95 at milepost 192, according to the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.
Rice was with another person in a cataract when both spilled into the river. Both were retrieved and CPR was begun on Rice. Riggins Ambulance transported Rice to the Salmon River High School football field where they were met by Life Flight.
Rice’s life vest may not have been properly secured and had come off when she was in the river.
