On 09/04/2010 at approximately 1500 hours Warden and I responded to a possible drowning on the Missouri River in the area of 73 Tower Rock Road. Warden2 also responded and assisted with his jet boat. Warden1 and I arrived in the area of 73 Tower Rock Road and parked near the other emergency vehicles already on scene. Warden1 and I walked upriver from 73 Tower Rock Road on the North bank of the Missouri River until we reached the location of the emergency personnel on scene. At that time I observed a Merciflight helicopter on the island where the victim and other occupants of the capsized vessel had landed. I also observed a member of the flight crew performing CPR on victim1.

I made contact with the on-scene Cascade County Deputy. At that time Deputy had no further information to relay to me concerning the boating incident. Approximately 30 minutes after Warden1 and I arrived on scene Warden2 arrived in the area with his jet boat. It was around the same time that emergency personnel stopped CPR on the victim. 

Wardens and I began to shuttle the remaining occupants of the capsized raft from the island to the shore using the jet boat with the assistance of the other emergency responders. Paramedics then began to treat the remaining occupants for shock and hypothermia due to their prolonged exposure to the cool air after becoming soaked. Lastly, Wardens and I transported the victims body from the island to the shore. At some point during the shuttling from the island to the shore Deputy Coroner arrived on scene and began his initial examination of the body shortly thereafter. 

Warden2 and I transported the victim's raft from the island to the shore. After the decedent's raft was transported to the shore Warden1 and I began our examination of the vessel. See attached photos. The vessel involved was approximately 12 feet long and had the following serial number: BZA06736K495. The only other identifying marks on the vessel were the model (Momentum) and a number (A63) probably placed on the raft by the former owner of the vessel. It should be mentioned that the victims wife had mentioned during here interview with Deputy that she and her husband had recently purchased the vessel. No other information was provided as to where or who they purchased the raft from. The raft was transported to the Cascade Volunteer Fire Department and the decedent's wife was notified of the rafts location. 

During her interview the wife also stated that she, the deceased, and two friends had been floating the Missouri River. The four occupants of the raft had worn their PFDs during the majority of the trip but at some point they had stopped on an island to recreate. When the occupants of the raft left the island they did not put their PFDs back on. While they continued their float they were approaching the I-15 bridge near Hardy Creek when there vessel turned sideways and struck one of the bridge supports. Due to the fact the vessel was lodged against the support the buildup of current against the vessel caused the raft to capsize ejecting all four occupants.  Three people were able to grab onto the raft and float along side of it. The victim was unable to grab the raft and succumbed to drowning. It should be mentioned that Warden1 and I only observed two PFDs while on scene.

Warden1 and I cleared the area without further incident. Please see attached Cascade County Sheriff;s Office Coroner's report.



Wolf Creek                    