Student Killed In Rafting Accident

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. (AP) – A University of Illinois student was killed in a whitewater rafting accident on the Upper Gauley River on Sunday, Officials said.

The woman fell out of the raft when it tipped shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday, said Len Hanger of Songer Whitewater.

Hoy Murphy from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources said her identity would not be released until next of kin are notified.

Songer said guides were unable to rescue the woman and her body was recovered by at about 4:20 p.m.

“The girl was pinned in the rocks,” Hanger said. “That appears to be what happened.”

The National Park Service and Natural Resources are investigating.

Hanger said he believed there were eight people aboard the raft and several others went into the water, but were unharmed.

The Gauley is widely known as a top rafting destination.

Hanger described conditions as normal for the fall whitewater season, given that there has been little rain this month.