Woman dies in rafting accident near Valdez

A 48-year-old woman from the Fairbanks area has died in a rafting accident on the Lowe River near Valdez.

City of Valdez spokeswoman Allie Ferko identified the deceased as Theresa L. Williams in an email to The Associated Press.

Ferko said earlier in a release that the woman was in a raft with five other people. The raft overturned Saturday night after it hit a bridge pillar in Keystone Canyon.

Ferko says four rafters pulled themselves out, but Williams and a 9-year-old girl were swept downriver about a mile.

Bystanders found Williams and began CPR until emergency responders arrived. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The girl pulled herself out, and was hospitalized for hypothermia observation. A 31-year-old man was also hospitalized for chest pain and difficulty breathing.

All six were from the Fairbanks area and were part of a retreat program.

Previous articleUAF Looking To Expand HAARP Potential
Next articleAnchorage residents walk for epilepsy awareness