The following accident occurred on July 5, 2012, at approximately 1245 hours.

The operator of Vessel I was dropped off at the boat ramp by his girlfriend, who returned to pick him up in the same location about 3 hours later.  When the witness returned, she saw the operator swimming in the water while pulling the kayak alongside. He came onshore to attempt to drain the water out of the kayak, but was unable to do so due to poor footing. He returned to the water and continued to swim his kayak back toward the launch.  At this time, the witness turned away for a moment and when she looked back, the operator and the kayak had disappeared from view.  It appears that the victim became fatigued or perhaps suffered a medical event.  The kayak was found to be swept under a railroad trestle by the current. It contained a half-empty gallon-size bottle of wine.  The victim's body was recovered the next day and the cause of death was determined to be drowning.
Hinsdale                      