These accidents were reported to American Whitewater by members and friends.
It is NOT a complete list! If you have corrections, or info on these and other
accidents please contact:

Charlie Walbridge, Safety Editor


Draft: AW Accident Summary June - Dec 2003

Victim?s Name Age Boat River
State Class Factors

6/2 David Borrell ?? K-1 Arkansas-Fractions
CO III Flush Drowning; High Water
6/28 ?? ?? Tube Delaware River, Scudders Falls
PA/NJ II No PFD
6/29 Jesse Heiss 23 K1 Shenandoah River
WV III Sprayskirt snagged

7/3 Jason Smith 27 Raft Wenachee/Tumwater
WA V Solo Paddler; Flush Drowning
7/4 Richard DiLaurenzio ?? Canoe Delaware River
NY/PA II No PFD
7/4 Hoyt Boyzart 52 Canoe French Broad River
NC II+ High Water, Inexperience
7/5 ?? Man ?? Tube Wilson?s Creek
NC IV High Water, Inexperience, Alcohol
7/5 Richard Thurman 63 Raft Kern River
CA II Health Problem
7/5 Andrew Darden 46 CommRaft Lower Yough River
PA IV Health Problem
7/7 Sandra Barnett 24 Canoe M Fork Vermillion IL X
Caught by dam, No PFD
7/8 Wayne Hawthorne 48 K-1 S. Fork Cal Salmon
CA IV? Caught in sieve
7/12 Joel Hayes 17 Raft Nantahala River
NC III Undercut Rock
7/16 ?? Man ?? Canoe Olentangy River
OH X Caught by dam
7/22 ?? Guide ?? Comm Raft Jacques-Cartier R.
PQ, CAN IV Snagged on Rope
7/30 Matt Sheridan 18 K-1 Rutherford Cr
BC/CAN VI Undercut Rock

8/7 Dan Crain ?? K-1 Clark Fork River MT X Missed Portage
8/9 Ryan Philbrick 29 IK Clackimas River
OR II Foot Entrapment
8/13 Alisa Belcourt 15 Raft Wenachee/Tumwater
WA V+ Flush Drowning, No PFD, inexperience
8/15 ?? Boy 9 Canoe Great Miami River
OH X Caught by dam

9/15 ?? Man ?? K-1 King?s River
CA X Caught by dam
9/19 Christopher Ball 21 Canoe Black?s Run
VA ?? Paddling at night; high water
9/27 Yannick Meraud 38 Raft North Fork Feather
CA IV Undercut Rock
9/28 James Williamson 58 Canoe Oswegachie R.
NY ?? Pinned by Strainer

10/9 Man ?? 30 ? Boat Great Miami River
OH X Caught by dam

11/9 Ben Manfridi 24 K-1 Elwha River WA
V No roll or wet exit
11/9 Keith Green 40 K-1 Chatooga River GA/SC
IV+ Undercut Rock
11/19 ?? Man ?? Canoe Lower Watauga River
TN ?? Pinned by Strainer
11/21 Josh Reichert 22 K-1 Shenandoah R.
WV III High water, Cold water

Totals: 9 Kayak , 8 Canoe , 7 Raft , 2 Tube , 1 Unknown

Yearly Total: Kayak 20, Canoe 15, Raft 14 , Tube 3, Motorboat 4, Unknown 2