On July 7, 2012, a boating accident occurred on the Clark Fork River in the Alberton Gorge whitewater section that resulted in the death of a man.  The following report was compiled by Warden from eye witnesses and people involved to include the passenger who was in the boat with the victim when the incident took place. The victim and passenger were floating the Alberton River Gorge on July 7th.  In addition to the raft the victim was floating in, the passenger also brought, and intermittently used a whitewater river kayak.  Witness 2, claimed that he had encountered the passenger and the victim at Sandy Beach Fishing Access Site earlier in the day.  Witness 2 said that the victim was switching his rower''s seat frame from a middle row position on the raft to a stern position.  The victim told witness 2 that he thought the new position might be better for the whitewater section, specifically Tumble Weed rapid, which is a class III/IV rapid.  Witness 2 said he thought that was an unusual position for a rower in whitewater without having at least two paddlers in the raft to help maneuver the boat.  Witness 2, having experience in white water situations, says that you lose much of your control over the raft in a stern rower''s seat, especially if you have not rowed from that position before.The victim and passenger continued downstream and began to enter Tumble Weed rapid.  At that point, the victim was rowing from the stern position and passenger was sitting in the bow of the boat.  They entered into Tumble Weed rapid river right.  This portion of the rapid is known to be the most difficult to maneuver.  At the time of entry into the rapid, photographs show that the passenger was wearing an approved Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and the victim was not wearing a PFD.  The victims raft entered the rapid bow first but then capsized on the starboard side.  Both the victim and passenger fell overboard along with dry boxes, The victims PFD and the passengers Kayak that was on the raft.  The raft corrected itself and came back down right side up. 

During an interview with the passenger, he claimed that he saw the victim moments after they were in the water.  He said that the victim looked very distraught and asked the passenger to throw him the bow line.  The passenger said that he tried to get the bow line to the victim but it was tied to the inside of the boat.  At that time he lost sight of the victim and did not see him again until later when he was brought to shore.  During the interview with the passenger, I asked if alcohol was involved and the passenger claimed that he and the victim may have had one 12 oz. beer a piece.

Photographs were taken of the incident by witness 1 owner and photographer of Montana River Photography.  Witness 1 photographs people going through Tumble Weed rapid and then offers them on his website.  Witness 1 photographs show the raft entering the rapid and the events that took place afterward.  The photograph of when the subjects fell over board was taken at 14:08, according to camera. Two of the photographs show victim just downstream from where he went overboard.  He was facing downstream and alert.  His PFD was in the water behind him approximately 20 yards.  Those were the last photographs taken of the incident in the water.  The victims position showed that he still had more white water to go through downstream before reaching calmer water.

Another witness that was actively involved in the rescue was Witness 3.  During an interview with Witness 3, he claimed that he was kayaking Surfer Joe rapid just below Tumble Weed rapid on river right.  He said that he saw an unmanned raft on river left and yelled out, “unmanned boat!”  Witness 3 said he then ferried across into the large eddy in the middle of the river where the water was flat.  He said he then saw a man, the victim, with his head just above water. ...
Alberton                      