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Jun-11-2014 20:32printcomments

Salem Family Rescued After Raft Hits Debris on Santiam River

Police report that there are now safe channels to travel through in that part of the Santiam River safely.


A Salem family out enjoying the warm weekend weather was lucky that the Benton County Water Rescue team was already on the Santiam River helping another victim, when their raft hit some debris and capsized. Photo Courtesy: Benton County Sheriff's Office

(ALBANY, Ore. ) - A Salem family out enjoying the warm weekend weather was lucky that the Benton County Water Rescue team was already on the Santiam River helping another victim, when their raft hit some debris and capsized.

On Saturday, at about 2:00 p.m., Deputy Eric Konzelman, Deputy Jessica Jones, and Deputy Noah Lochner of the Benton County Sheriff's Office, were dispatched to the Santiam River, North of Jefferson Boat Ramp for the report of a stranded kayaker.

Upon arrival they were told a pregnant woman had been swept into some debris and hit her head and face. Benton County Deputies picked up Jamie Diane Hoefer of Albany. Hoefer was transported by Benton County Deputies to Jefferson boat ramp where she was seen by medics.

After transporting Jamie they were contacted by the initial group of kayakers who had lost their kayak. The stranded kayaker Mathew Johnson was transported by Albany Fire Department to shore, but the kayak he was using was still submerged in a large pile of debris.

They headed back up the Santiam to attempt to retrieve the kayak. Upon arrival they saw a woman, Anna Marie Hickam of Salem in the water.

Her two kids Haley Pauline Hickam and Caleb Andrew Hickam, on an inflatable raft that had been hung up on the same debris Jamie Hoefer had capsized on. As they pulled the boat close the raft became dislodged, which was then pulled into another log and started to capsize as well.

Deputy Jessica Jones and Deputy Noah Lochner pulled the two young kids off the raft and onto the Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol boat as Anna started to get pulled under the large half submerged log. Despite the strong current trying to pull her under Deputies were able to get her aboard un-harmed.

Benton County Deputies transported Anna, Caleb, and Haley Hickam all un-harmed to the rest of their group and returned to the submerged kayak in an attempt to recover it.

A short while later another inflatable raft with a family of four started floating down river. Deputies tried to warn the family of the direction they needed to take and of the dangers in the water ahead but they could not paddle fast enough and the strong water current pulled them into the debris.

Deputy Eric Konzelman and Deputy Noah Lochner were out on the debris pile and for saw the family was going to hit the debris. They quickly climbed out onto the log and as the small raft hit the downed log in the water.

Deputy Eric Konzelman lifted Callie Anne Clark, a 6-year-old girl off the raft moments before it capsized. Her father Mathew Clark, grabbed onto the debris to avoid getting sucked under. His wife Brittney Sierra Clarkand, and 4-year-old son Conner Mathew Clark were pulled under the water for a moment.

Brittney re-merged on the surface a moment later on the same side of the debris they had struck. Conner Clark resurfaced on the other side of the log. Deputy Noah Lochner jumped into the water and grabbed the 4-year-old as he was floating down the Santiam river and brought him to shore.

All family members were accounted for and safe.

Marine Patrol Deputies Eric Konzelman, Noah Lochner, Bill Ellison and Jerry Williams returned the following morning and removed all hazardous debris from the water for floaters and boaters.

Police report that there are now safe channels to travel through in the area safely.

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