Accident Database

51 Completed Safety Reports Found

State/Country Date Name/Age River/Section Flow/Class Boat/Cause Factor/Injury Type/Private Links
MD United States 2024-05-16 2 Unidentified Men 19 Potomac River Great Falls, Maryland Side Medium V+ Kayak - Other-
PFD Not Worn or Present
Inexperience/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2024-05-03 Phil Coleman Youghiogheny River Upper Medium IV+ Raft-
Swim into Rock or Sieve
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2023-09-17 Ella Mills 25 Potomac River Little Falls Low III Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
Inexperience/ Other Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2021-07-10 Unidentified Boy 7 Potomac River N/A Other-
PFD Not Worn or Present
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2020-05-08 unidentified man Potomac 7. Little Falls Medium III+ Other-
PFD Not Worn or Present
Cold Water/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2020-04-05 Unidentified Woman Potomac (3. Great Falls 3. Great Falls (Fish Ladder) V Whitewater Kayak-
Impact/Trauma
Other/ Physical Trauma Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2020-04-02 Mauve Kennedy Townsend McKean 40 Chesapeake Bay N/A Open Canoe-
PFD Not Worn or Present
One Boat Trip/ Hypothermia Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2019-09-21 Unidentified Woman 66 Potomac 2. GW Canal Loop or Violette's Lock to Pennyfield Lock Low II Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
Other/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2019-08-03 Michael Clevinger 32 Potomac 0.7 - Potomac - Dargans Bend Boat Ramp to Potoma Wayside Medium II Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
One Boat Trip/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2019-05-17 Deb Olson 59 Youghiogheny 3. Upper Medium V Raft-
Flush Drowning
High Water/ Fatal Commericial Read More
MD United States 2018-11-19 Susan Lynne King 62 Potomac 0.5 Dam # 4 to Shepherdstown WV High N/A Other-
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
One Boat Trip/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2018-08-09 Patrick Waldron 58 Monocacy River 1. Creagerstown Park to Devilbiss Bridge Park High II Whitewater Kayak-
Swim into Strainer
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2018-06-23 Unidentified Man Youghiogheny 2. Top Low V Whitewater Kayak-
Swim into Rock or Sieve
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2018-06-04 Unidentified Man Potomac High N/A Other-
Flush Drowning
One Boat Trip/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2017-09-03 Ursy Potter Potomac 6. Little Falls Low III+ Whitewater Kayak-
Equipment Trap
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2016-10-16 Seth Burkholder 38 Jones Falls Lake Roland to Round Falls Whitewater Kayak-
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
Other/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2016-08-19 Unidentified Man Potomac River Near Williamsport, MD I Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
Solo Paddling/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2015-06-27 Steven Hembree 62 Liganore Creek Monocracy tributary Other-
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2015-05-22 Unidentified Man Potomac 4. Mather Gorge to Lock 10 Medium Whitewater Kayak-
Flush Drowning
High Water/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2014-06-29 Paul K. Hare 21 Gunpowder Falls 2 - Prettyboy Dam to Falls Road Medium VI Whitewater Kayak-
Impact/Trauma
Poor Planning/ Head Injury / Concussion Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2014-06-20 Tom McEwan 66 Potomac (Great Falls Great Falls (Fish Ladder) V Whitewater Kayak-
Impact/Trauma
Other/ Head Injury / Concussion Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2014-06-13 Unidentified Man Potomac 4. Mather Gorge to Lock 10 Whitewater Kayak-
Other
Other/ Other Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2014-01-21 Unidentified Man Potomac 4. Mather Gorge to Lock 10 Whitewater Kayak-
Equipment Trap
Other/ Other Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2013-08-24 Lou Peterson 65 Potomac, North Branch 4. Barnum, WV to Bloomington, MD Medium Whitewater Kayak-
Health Problem
Other/ Heart Attack / Heart Failure Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2013-07-11 Shannon Christy 23 Potomac (3. Great Falls 3. Great Falls (Center Lines) Medium V Whitewater Kayak-
Swim into Rock or Sieve
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2013-06-15 Daniel Deamond Gunpowder Falls 4 - Lower Loch Raven Dam to Route 1 II Kayak - Other-
PFD Not Worn or Present
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2013-04-06 Two Unidentified Men Potomac 4. Mather Gorge to Lock 10 High III Open Canoe-
Flush Drowning
Cold Water/ Hypothermia Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2011-09-07 David ? 16 Patapsco Woodstock to Elkridge II Other-
Swim into Strainer
High Water/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2009-05-21 James Hughes 54 Potomac River Great Falls?? Medium V Whitewater Kayak-
Unknown
Solo Paddling/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2008-06-14 unknown female Youghiogheny 3. Upper Medium IV Raft-
Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2006-05-28 Mike Wevrick Savage Dam to North Branch Potomac River Medium IV Inflatable Kayak-
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2004-10-19 Todd Andrew 35 Potomac Great Falls Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2003-08-03 Unidentified Man Youghiogheny 3. Upper Medium IV Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
Other/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2003-04-25 Jennifer Lohnert 12 Potomac 6. Little Falls I Open Canoe-
PFD Not Worn or Present
One Boat Trip/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 2001-10-08 Eric Jackson Potomac 3. Through Great Falls (several runs) V Whitewater Kayak-
Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
Other/ Other Injury Private Read More
MD United States 2001-08-04 unidentified hiker Potomac 4. Mather Gorge to Lock 10 III Other-
PFD Not Worn or Present
Inadequate Equipment/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1999-11-27 Bryan Ragan Potomac Great Falls Medium V Whitewater Kayak-
Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
Solo Paddling/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1999-06-17 Would be rescuer Potomac O-Deck Medium II Other-
Flush Drowning
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 1999-06-08 Unidentified Man Potomac Great Falls Low V Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
Other/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1998-11-29 Scott Bristow 26 Potomac Great Falls Low V Whitewater Kayak-
Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 1998-02-22 Unidentified Men Potomac 4. Mather Gorge to Lock 10 High N/A Inflatable Kayak-
Other
High Water/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1997-05-06 Michael (Kelly) Day 44 Savage Lower: 2. Savage Dam to North Branch Potomac River High III+ Whitewater Kayak-
Swim into Strainer
Other/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 1996-06-19 Thomas Dickinson 29 Patapsco River Near Ellicott City, MD High N/A Raft-
PFD Not Worn or Present
One Boat Trip/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 1994-05-24 Justin Sappington 14 Deer Creek Bond Road to Susquehanna River Medium I Open Canoe-
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
Poor Planning/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 1993-08-06 Dave Bruton Potomac 3. Through Great Falls (several runs) Medium V+ Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1990-07-06 Kathy Bolyn Savage Dam to North Branch Potomac River Medium III Whitewater Kayak-
Pinned in Boat Against Strainer
Cold Water/ Physical Trauma Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1988-08-02 Stephen Smith 30 Potomac 5. Lock 10 to Little Falls IV Kayak - Other-
Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
Other/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1984-05-05 5 unidentified rafters 20 Potomac 6. Little Falls High N/A Raft-
Caught in Low Head Dam Hydraulic
One Boat Trip/ Fatal Private Read More
MD United States 1981-09-20 Mike May Potomac (3. Great Falls 3. Great Falls (VA Lines) Low V+ Whitewater Kayak-
Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
Other/ Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1976-09-05 George L'Hota 30 Savage Dam to North Branch Potomac River IV Whitewater Kayak-
Equipment Trap
Cold Water/ Near Drowning Injury Private Read More
MD United States 1972-10-08 Unidentified Man Potomac 5. Anglers Inn to Lock 10 High III+ Open Canoe-
Other
High Water/ Hypothermia Injury Private Read More

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