Rafting fatalities
Between 1975 and 2005, there were 43 whitewater fatalities in Pennsylvania, according to American Whitewater. That includes kayaking, rafting and canoes.
The numbers put Pennsylvania in the top five states for fatalities in that period, with California at 79; Colorado at 77; West Virginia at 51, and Washington at 42.
The nonprofit organization cautions that it was difficult to get comprehensive data in the early years.
“American Whitewater has never been able to track all moving water accidents. We do hear about most deaths involving experienced kayakers and think that our ‘kayak’ numbers are pretty accurate,” the organization’s website says.
“The total number of whitewater paddlers was very small in the ’70s and AW’s accident reporting program was just getting started. The sport grew quickly toward the end of the decade then doubled three times in the ‘80s and ‘90s. We think increased participation accounts for much of the increase in accidents. The increase in the number of canoeing and rafting accidents reported to AW since 1994 is due mainly to the effectiveness of Internet-based reporting.”
Since then, the numbers have become clearer.
American Whitewater has recorded injuries and deaths of those in rafts, canoes or kayaks since 1980, the majority happening by private paddlers, not commercial companies such as Pocono Whitewater.
Of the 74 fatalities, 61 involved private paddlers and 13 involved those on commercial excursions.
The information includes these local fatalities.
On Sept. 1, Christopher J. Santana, 33, of Valley Stream, New York, drowned on a commercial rafting trip after his foot became wedged in rocks after he fell from the raft.
On Aug. 5, Rosa Spadaro, 67, of Philadelphia, in a commercial raft died on the Lehigh between Glen Onoko and Bowmanstown. American Whitewater lists the cause of her death as “flush drowning.”
It was not clear what company operated the trip.
On May 21, 2014, Jeremy Deemer, 26, died on the Lehigh River in Easton when his kayak went over the dam at Hugh Moore Park.
On Aug. 7, 2011, Michael McDonald, 34, died near the 873 bridge near Walnutport when he fell out of his private kayak.
On May 18, 2011, Pamela J. Boyko, 53, of the Walnutport area, died on the Lehigh River near Walnutport when her canoe capsized as she tried to rescue her two dogs.
On March 12, 1995, 14-year-old Sophy Voeun drowned on the White Haven to Rockport stretch of the Lehigh when the inexpensive private raft she was riding in with four others capsized, spilling the riders into 35 degree water.
On March 23, 1992, Robert Bauchspies, 23, drowned after attempting to run a low head dam on Bushkill Creek near Easton in his kayak.
