06/23/2013  
The Ravalli County 911 Center was notified at 14:48 hours of a boat accident that happened at about. 14:00 hrs. at the Corvallis Diversion Dam on the Bitterroot River. Primary vessel was identified as a drift boat occupied by 3 adults and 6 young children. All 6 children were wearing PFD''s, and adequate number of PFD''s were on board for the other 3 adults.   The boat went over the diversion dam and started to go side ways.  As the operator was trying to row out of the current, one oar popped out of the oar lock and the boat went completely sideways parallel to the dam.  As the boat was spinning in the vortex, it began to take on water.  The operator of the boat told the girls and other 2 adults to jump out of the boat on the downstream side of the vessel.  All three adults and 4 of the girls were pushed out of the current down stream.  However, two of the girls, both 6 years old were repeatedly pulled back toward the dam and pushed away by the strong current.  The boat filled up with water, sank and popped out of the current farther downstream.  The operator of the boat swam to shore, ran up to the diversion dam, and jumped into the water to attempt to rescue the 2 young girls still trapped in the current.  The operator was able to rescue one of the girls, and brought her to shore.  The operator ran up to the dam again and jumped in to rescue the girl still trapped in the vortex of the dam, and was unable to do so.  The adults believe the girl was trapped in the strong current for about 15 minutes before she was pulled out of the water and the adults began CPR.  One of the adults ran to a nearby dairy farm to call 911.  Dispatch received the call at 14:48 hours.  The adults believe they performed CPR for about an hour until emergency medical personnel arrived.  The girl was then air lifted to Missoula for further medical attention.  On June 24,2013 FWP Wardens Royce and Morin confirmed that the 6 year old girl was deceased.  Cause of death appeared to be drowning.  She also had contusions to the head and face.  The other young girl who was rescued from the water was transported to a Missoula hospital by her parents for further medical attention.  She was treated for water ingestion and contusions to the head and face and released from the hospital. 
 
Nothing further.
Corvallis