Death Of 2 Rafters Stuns Kent Church -- Covington Boy, Maple Valley Man Trapped After Legs Caught In Cord

KENT - A Wenatchee River rafting accident last weekend that claimed the lives of a Covington boy and Maple Valley man is thought to be the first fatal accident on that river involving a commercial rafting company.

Scott Lowers, Chelan County director of the Department of Emergency Management, said the county in recent years has handled from one to three fatal Wenatchee River accidents a year, usually involving amateur rafters, people in inner tubes or swimmers.

"This is a strong reminder: Rivers are not forgiving. Mistakes can be very costly," Lowers said.

Killed in the Saturday accident were Ryan Brunner, 12, and Richard L. Johnson, 38.

Brunner and Johnson belonged to the Kent-area Cornerstone United Methodist Church, which organized the trip for 47 church members and several friends.

Annual church outing

The annual trip was run by Different Strokes Expeditions, a Kent company owned by Tyler Kelly, who also is a member of the church. The trip was led by Michael Robins, a professional guide, and another church member, Pat Cavanaugh, whose son also was there.

Lowers said the river, one of the state's busiest for rafting, was flowing at moderate levels when the accident occurred around 11:30 a.m.

Cavanaugh told police that as his group's 14-foot rubber raft approached a concrete piling of a bridge at Highway 2, Robins instructed the group to briefly paddle forward.

Robins gave no further instructions, so Cavanaugh said he asked, "What do you want us to do?" Cavanaugh said the guide responded by saying, "I think I can make it."

Seconds later, the raft slammed into the piling. The raft flipped, and the group was thrown into the water.

Cavanaugh grabbed two boys and pushed them to shore before being carried downstream, where he later was rescued.

Legs tangled in raft cord

Brunner and Johnson were trapped under the raft and each had one leg tangled in a cord, according to a police report. It took more than four hours before rescue crews were able to use a crane to lift the raft.

The rope apparently was part of a safety feature on the raft, said sheriff's Sgt. J.R. Winn said. The rope was strung through handles used for crew members to hang onto.

Cavanaugh said yesterday members of the trip and church were in shock. But he was quick to add the tragedy was an accident and not anyone's fault.

"I'd still go down the river with (Robins)," he said.

Kelly said he was going through a difficult time because he lost friends in the accident. He declined further comment.

Pastor Daniel Foster said the entire church is feeling a huge loss.

Rob Robertson, a friend of the Brunner family, called Ryan Brunner a bubbly boy with a huge smile who loved sports and other outdoor activities, especially hiking and fishing.

Robertson said the family, which includes two other boys, 10 and 5, is dealing with Ryan's death privately.

Johnson leaves a wife and two children.

Services for Ryan will be at 1 p.m. Thursday; services for Johnson will be at 11 a.m. Friday. Both services will be at the church.