RedactedNarrative: Jurisdiction: 047 /  culpeper   on the date above i, cpo, was on duty in culpeper county attending a meeting reference local flooding from heavy rains at the culpeper county dispatch center.   A call came in for a possible water rescue on the rappahannock river near river mill rd. The call was transferred from fauquier county who quickly routed it to culpeper based on geographic indicators and location. The call was toned out for 1 subject in the water near campsite 42. Information given to dispatch was that the subject had a pfd but was not in a boat.  Culpeper dispatch developed information that the subjects were at the rappahannock river camp ground off of river mill rd.  The notes from the cad indicated the subject was being pulled to shore by a rope and that ems and water rescue teams were dispatched.    At approximately 16:48 hours the subject was removed from the river and all units except rescue were placed in service. No ems / fire/ or le personnel had arrived at this time. Richardsville vfd responded to the scene in a utility vehicle and logged that all subjects were accounted for and no ems was needed.  Culpeper dispatch advised me that no boats were involved in the incident on 6/22/18.  On 06/23/18 i contacted culpeper dispatch to obtain a copy of the cad information. There were two separate cad logs for the incident and on the first cad the notes detail 8 subjects put on at the kellys ford boat landing in culpeper county in 4 canoes. 
  
  One canoe was not recovered during the incident but all 8 subjects are out of water.  The information was being relayed to dispatcher from a third party caller.   Sgt. was notified of the findings from the cad reports and advised an investigation should be conducted.   I contacted the caller information listed in the cad from culpeper county.  
  
  Subject stated that he was not on the boat that went missing but was present for the incident.  Subject stated the group put on the river and the river began to swell, growing more swift. He claimed that the group was unaware of the flash flood conditions as they all are from out of state. Subject stated the river appeared slow at the boat ramp with (5) steps of the boat ramp visible.  He further stated that a couple boats overturned in the rapids a few miles from the ramp.  He continued to state that after a second round of overturning in rapids the group decided to get off the river for safety.  Subject stated none of the group had to be rescued by ems or fire personnel.  
  
  Subject provided the names the occupants of the lost canoe.   Contact was made with operator who stated he was one of the lost canoe operators. Operator stated that the group arrived at kellys ford boat landing around 08:00 hrs on 6/22/18. He described the weather as misting and overcast. Operator stated he checked the river gauge on his phone and noted it to be 4.96 from american whitewater website. He stated the group was going to float for 3 days and take out at the motts run landing in spotsylvania county. Operator stated that after being on the water for  a while (estimating 6-8 miles) the group hit a set of rapids and he and his partner overturned. 
  
  Operator stated no gear was lost and the boat was recovered although him and his partner were now separated. Operator joined another canoe and his partner was now solo and floating faster than the group. Operator stated a short time later his partner overturned in rapids and the canoe was pinned under water on debris.  He stated his partner then got in water and swam to alternate shore where the group had taken out for safety.  Operator stated he was in communication with his partner by cell phone when separated.  He further stated they took out at the campground because it was a location that appeared to have people present.  
  
   Operator verified that the canoe was a 16'9" red, old town but could not provide a hull id number. It belonged to his brother who purchased it used from rappahannock canoe company.   Operator was requested to complete a boating accident report from the agency website.  Contact was made with subject2 about the incident.  
  
  Subject2 stated when the group put on the river everything appeared safe and at a normal level. He stated that the water began to muddy quickly as they progressed down stream. Subject2 provided the following email statement:  "on june 22 our group set out from kelly's ford for a canoe/camping trip. We checked water levels before we left and things were considered safe. After 2 hours of travel, operator and i approached some rapids, took on some water, and tipped over. Operator swam to another canoe and i returned to ours. Further down, the current got stronger and took the canoe into debris. Stuck, it began to take on more and more water. The canoe was totally under, so i cut free my dry bag and floated down to shore where the rest of my group was waiting. Our entire group was out of the water by the time rescue had come"   a check of the usgs stream surveys was also conducted to verify the information obtained from interviews. The gauge shows water levels early 6/22 to be below 5ft and quickly rising to below 20 ft before days end. This information is consistent with that of operator on the gauge level at 08:00 that morning.  The group is not from the area and was not present for prior high waters.   The canoe has not been recovered as of this date 07/05/18.  A dry bag was last known to be secure on the canoe with operator fishing license inside