Pennsylvania woman dies after rollover during guided Alaska rafting trip

The Klutina River, pictured present successful June of 2007, flows into nan Copper River adjacent Copper Center, Alaska. (Creative Commons photograph by Ryne Radigan)

A Pennsylvania female died connected Sunday aft her guided stream raft rolled complete connected nan Klutina River adjacent Copper Center. 

According to an Alaska State Troopers dispatch, 65-year-old Deborah Ann Burke of Harrisburg was aboard a stream raft pinch a guideline and 2 different passengers. The stream existent pinned nan raft against landslide debris and rolled it over. 

Other rafts successful nan guided group recovered nan guide, Burke and 1 different passenger, troopers said. Good Samaritans successful a stream pitchy vessel rescued nan 4th personification down river, and brought him to first responders waiting astatine a vessel motorboat adjacent nan Richardson Highway span complete nan Klutina River, troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain said successful an email. 

Burke died arsenic a consequence of injuries, troopers said. First responders could not prevention her. 

One different rider and nan guideline were taken to nan Gulkana Airport and past medevaced to Anchorage pinch superior injuries. 

Copper River Guides led nan trip, which deed nan h2o astatine astir 4:30 p.m., DeSpain said. Troopers were notified astir nan incident astatine astir 6:25 p.m. The institution could not instantly beryllium reached for remark connected Monday. 

Copper Center is astir 200 roadworthy miles eastbound of Anchorage, wherever nan Klutina River meets nan Copper River. Companies trading rafting trips opportunity nan Klutina River has Class III rapids, but alteration successful their descriptions of what to expect. Princess Lodges describes it arsenic “fun and splashy.” Salmon Grove Campground & Fishing Charters describes it arsenic “a very accelerated stream flowing up to 14 mph” that only knowledgeable boaters should run. 

A National Weather Service stream gauge shows nan stream levels astatine Copper Center rising done June and, truthful far, leveling disconnected this month.