Spree of Water-Related Deaths Plague Ute Pass Region
Trevor Phipps
Over the last several weeks, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Division has launched a massive effort to get people to follow the state’s life jacket policy when recreating in water.
But despite a rising number of tickets issued, the region experienced another death when a paddle boarding trip went wrong.
On August 1, three people and a dog were out at 11 Mile Reservoir (west of Lake George) paddle boarding when a storm rolled in. At about 1 p.m. a large gust of wind picked up and knocked everyone off of their paddle boards.
After the incident, one of the people on the paddle board was wearing a life jacket and was able to swim to the shore. Another one was wearing a life jacket and had themselves tethered to the paddle board. That person was rescued by first responders, according to a press release sent out by CPW.
However, after not being able to locate the third paddle boarder, emergency crews launched a massive search effort that included the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Hartsel Fire and CPW’s Marine Evidence Recovery Team. After an 11-hour search, CPW announced that they found the bodies of a man and a dog that were expected to be the missing paddle boarder just before midnight. The body was later identified as 33-year-old Zachary Gursky.
The recent incident served as another local reminder to always wear life jackets when recreating on the state’s lakes and rivers. In fact, during a recent Teller County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Chairman Dan Williams brought up the tragedy that occurred on Rampart Reservoir on July 5, when two people were rescued after falling into the water.
Williams said that he has received questions from residents asking about why CPW has been out writing more tickets for not wearing life jackets. He said that drowning incidents have been at record highs across the state over the last few years. Therefore, CPW has been out in full force giving warnings for first violations and then writing $100 tickets for those caught violating the life jacket laws.
He also stated that most of the incidents involve tourists and not locals, so ticketing violators to educate them of the dangers of being out on water is crucial. “36 percent of the calls our ambulances (that we pay for in Teller County) go to answer are for non-residents,” Williams said. “And, a sizable portion of them do not have insurance. So, there is a burden there.”
A Dozen-plus Water-Related Deaths This Season
So far this season, it’s been a deadly time on the water. Officials have reported 16 deaths on lakes and rivers across Colorado. Lakes in Teller and Park Counties have thus far accounted for three of those deaths.
On April 12, two people were in a canoe on Spinney Mountain Reservoir when high winds tipped the canoe over. One paddler was rescued by a boat, but the other person’s body wasn’t found until two days later. The person who died had a life jacket in the canoe, but they were not wearing it at the time it tipped over.
On May 26, a man’s boat and life jacket were seen drifting on the 52-degree water on Skaguay Reservoir near Victor. A search effort was launched and 76-year-old Canon City resident Fred Arnold’s body was found on June 4.
Across the state, most of the recorded deaths have been on lakes/reservoirs. However, there have been at least two people who have died rafting on rivers this year. Moreover, four people passed away at Pueblo Reservoir over a five-week period including a 53-year-old man who tried to save his two children and friends who were struggling to swim in rough water.
In the past few years, CPW has put up more warning signs, launched digital ads and pushed their staff to educate and remind those recreating on the water to wear life jackets on a regular basis. CPW has also grown its life jacket loaner program as it now offers 48 life jacket loaner stations in 30 of its state park reservoirs and recreation areas. As of July 10, the agency had also issued 325 tickets to those not wearing life jackets.
Drunk Colorado Springs Man Purposely Drives Off-Road Vehicle into River
Outright stupidity, though, has entered the picture when it comes to a summer of disasters on the water.
On August 3, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call that a man was stuck in a UTV in the Arkansas River near Buena Vista’s Ruby Mountain Campground. When deputies arrived on scene, they found Jason Beltz from Colorado Springs and an unnamed passenger stuck inside the partially submerged off-road vehicle.
“The river began to sweep the UTV downstream before hanging up on a rock,” the Chaffee County Sheriff said, according to KRDO. “Although the river can serve recreational interests, it can be very dangerous if it isn’t respected.”
After rescuing Beltz and the passenger, deputies determined that the suspect intentionally drove into the river and that “alcohol was a contributing factor.” Beltz was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and booked on a $1,000 bond.
“This should also serve as a reminder to others that you don’t have to be driving down a paved road while drinking to get a DUI,” the sheriff said.
