Officer responded to a boating accident/possible drowning on the North Fork of the Flathead River.  The reporting party who lives at that address.  The victim was in a ruddered, 17.5 foot, 2 person, FOLBot, with her husband the boats operator.  They had put in to the river at Polebridge at about 1115 hrs on Sept 21, 2011.  They were planning on taking their boat down the river to Big Creek.  Earlier they had positioned their vehicle at Big Creek with the assistance from an employee of the Polebridge store.

The  operator related that he and the victim were paddling downstream.  the victim was in the front of the boat and he was in the back.  Everything was going well until they got to the S bend in the river where the accident occurred.  the operator said they were talking their way around the corners, ("paddle left - Paddle right") and as they were into the second portion of the S bend the current took the bow of the boat into a root ball on the East side of the river.  As the bow make contact with the root ball the boat bent in the middle and both occupants went down into the water.  the operator stated he was pushed under and came out the other side.  He stated he made several attempts to get back to the root ball but could not due to the current.  At that time he did not see the victim or the boat.  the operator said he knew about where the road was on the west side of the river, so he swam across, bushwhacked to the North Fork road and flagged down a passing car.  Unknown who the driver of the passing car was,  however they took the information to the residence where they called dispatch.  The Operator remained on the road to mark the location until responders arrived.

The Victim's body and the boat were recovered about 2 hrs later by Under Sheriff  and other members of the swift water rescue team.  The body was taken to the Johnson Mortuary.  The operator was checked by EMS and found to be chilled but ok.  He stated he was familiar with the river and had floated it in previous years.  4 times in September conditions and 2 times in July conditions.
Polebridge                    