Pennsylvania woman dies during rafting accident

On July 7, at 6:25pm, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers were notified of a rafting incident on the Klutina River near Copper Center.

A guided group of three rafts ran into trouble when one of the rafts carrying a rafting guide and three passengers was pinned by the river current against landslide debris and rolled over. Rescue efforts were initiated on scene. The guide, and two individuals were recovered to a second raft.

A fourth individual from the raft was not immediately located. Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, and EMS responded downriver to the Richardson Highway Bridge where the fourth person was spotted and recovered by good Samaritans.

One of the passengers, that was initially recovered to the second raft, identified as Deborah Burke age 65 of Pennsylvania, succumbed to her injuries after life-saving efforts by EMS were unsuccessful. The rafting guide and one of the recovered individuals were treated on scene and then medevacked to Anchorage with serious injuries. Next of kin was on scene and notified.