One Man Dead In Commercial Rafting Incident [UPDATE]

Wardens have released the identity of a York man who was killed during a commercial rafting expedition in West Forks Plantation.

Corporal John MacDonald with the Maine Warden Service said in a media release that 67-year-old Richard Sanders was on a raft guided by North Country River out of Bingham. Wardens  responded at around 2:30 Saturday afternoon to a call of a man who had gone into the water.

Investigators say that all 7 passengers were ejected from the raft on a remote portion of Dead River known as Mile Long Rapid. The victim was wearing a lifejacket and helmet when he went into the water, as required by the rafting company's policies. Witnesses told Wardens the man may have been submerged for several minutes. He was pulled from  the water and lifesaving measures were performed, but to no avail.

Game Wardens continue to investigate this incident.