Members of the group has been on the river 05/16/09 and felt that the river was safe.  Today they had traveled further on the river then the group had gone before.  After they had passed under the military tank crossing bridge the pace of the river picked up  and they started to encountered log jams.  They continued down the river until they encountered a log jam on the right side of the river.  subject 1 stated that he believed the current would carry them around the log jam.  Instead the current pulled the canoes into the jam.  His canoe was pulled into the jam sideways and the current began to pull it under. subject 1 stated he remebered the canoe tipping and being in the water.  He stated people began to grab onto trees and try to pull themselves out.  He saw subject 2 holding onto a branch barely keeping his head above water with the current pulling him down. subject 3 attempted to get to subject 2 and the branch he was holding onto broke.  subject 2 let go of the tree he was hanging onto and tried to swim to another log.  subject 2 was carried further down stream. subject 2 was carried under a log and continued to float down stream.  He saw subject 4 swim after his son and they were pulled out by members of the 5th Battalion who tried to swim out to rescue him but was unable to reach subject 2 due to water temperature and the current.  the group was able to get out of the river except for subject 2.  The only apparent injuries were minor scraped and bruises.  All had torn clothes and missing shoes from the current.  He stated that the current tore off their life jackets.  2 others gave similiar accounts of what had occurred.  All three stated that members of the group had been drinking beer prior to boating but denied that anyone was intoxicated.  None of the group showed signs of intoxication.
Yelm                          