DANVILLE, Va. – One person is dead and another is hurt after a canoe overturned on the Dan River, police said.
Danville Police Department Capt. Jerry Pace said the accident happened on Sunday at around 2 p.m. behind the Danville Family YMCA.
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A grandfather and his grandson were out canoeing near White Mill Dam when they got too close to the dam, went over and got tangled up in debris, according to Paige Pearson with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, which is the organization leading the investigation.
Pearson said the grandfather, Ronald Reynolds, of Axton, died, while the 24-year-old grandson was able to hold onto a rock before he was rescued.
Authorities said the grandson was treated by the Danville Life Saving Crew before he was taken to a local hospital.
The life saving crew located and recovered Reynolds’ body via rescue boat.
Pearson said the water level is normally around 6.5 feet, and it was at 8.45 feet at the time of the incident. As of Monday afternoon, the water level was still rising but not yet at flood stage.
Authorities are still waiting to hear from the medical examiner to determine an actual cause of death. Pearson said not men were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
Along with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the Danville life saving crew, police department and fire department all responded to this incident.