Posted: Monday, June 4, 2018 6:37 pm | Updated: 7:47 pm, Mon Jun 4, 2018. Chaffee County Times
The Chaffee County Communications Center received a call June 4 about 3:11 p.m, about a raft that capsized in the vicinity of the Pine Creek Rapids approximately 13 miles north of Buena Vista.
Members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Chaffee Fire, Chaffee County EMS, Chaffee County Search and Rescue North and State Parks and Wildlife all responded to the scene and began search efforts.
According to a witness the victim and his wife put in the Arkansas River at the Clear Creek confluence. A short distance downriver the raft they were riding on capsized and both passengers of the private raft entered the river. The wife of the victim was able to swim to safety however the victim continued downriver.
Search efforts began immediately and after a large scale search began the victim was located approximately 4 hours after he entered the river.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the Chaffee County Coroner responded and took possession of the victim.
The victim was identified as Christian Sheetz, age 46, from Summit County.
