West Virginia man drowns in rafting accident on Bitterroot

According to Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton, Roger Lee Booth of Charleston, West Virginia, was out fishing on a raft that capsized after hitting a bridge pier.

All three occupants of the boat were thrown into the river when it capsized. The two other adults who were accompanying Booth were reportedly able to reach shore safely. Booth was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency personnel from the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, Corvallis Volunteer Fire Department, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Bitterroot Health and Ravalli County Search and Rescue were able to reach the victim and provide emergency medical care, according to a statement from the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office.

The rafting accident is being investigated by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It is the second drowning death on the Bitterroot River this season.

John Brewer, 76, of Port Angeles, Washington, died in late April when his fishing boat capsized after hitting a log between the Lone Pine and Wally Crawford fishing access points near Darby.

The deaths highlight the dangers associated with recreation on the Bitterroot River.

“River safety is extremely important and the Bitterroot River is full of obstacles and underwater hazards, making it challenging for rafters and others recreational on the river,” Holton said in a written statement. “It is still deep and has a strong current, and people using the river should exercise extreme caution when recreational on the river.”

Ravalli County Search and Rescue responded to eleven water rescues on the Bitterroot River in 2023, resulting in one fatality. A 26-year-old woman died on the Bitterroot River near Florence last June when her kayak capsized on a log.

There are safety tips you can follow to avoid accidents while enjoying recreational activities on Montana’s rivers. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommends recreational activities do research on the destination before you leave. Also, share your plans with friends and family and let them know when you plan to return. Always wear a properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD) when in or near the river. Montana law requires all boats to carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Children under 12 are required to wear their life jackets while on board; adults are not.

Other recommendations include never sailing alone, making sure your boating skills and experience are appropriate for the river and conditions, being aware of constantly changing hazards and obstacles, and finally, if in doubt, portage the boat.

Much of the Bitterroot River is lined with cottonwood trees. When water levels fluctuate, river banks erode and trees can fall over, creating submerged stumps called screens or sweeps, as well as logs that can clog river channels. As water flows through the fallen trees, it can cause boats to be sucked into the woody debris and throw boaters overboard, where they can become trapped underwater in the tangled branches below.

There are also several diversion dams on the Bitterroot River, also known as low-water dams, that can be dangerous for recreational users. A 57-year-old Hamilton man drowned in July 2019 while trying to rescue a dog trapped in an undercurrent behind a diversion dam near the Hamilton Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 2013, a 6-year-old girl drowned when her boat capsized and went over the old Supply Ditch Diversion Dam near Corvallis, prompting an emergency closure of 4.5 miles of the river as well as the eventual demolition of the structure.