UMVA has learned that a tragic accident claimed the life of a high‑school student during a school‑organized rafting excursion on the Lehigh River.
Seventy‑five students set out for the annual trip, their laughter echoing off the water as five of them clung to an inflatable raft that would soon turn deadly. The vessel suddenly capsized near the D&L Trail, hurling its occupants into the cold current.
Rescue teams plunged into the river, pulling students to safety, but one young boy failed to surface. Despite frantic efforts, he was recovered later that evening and pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m.
The Carbon County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause as accidental drowning, while details about river conditions, safety gear, or the precise trigger for the capsizing remain under investigation.
Superintendent Jeff Nichols expressed profound sorrow, urging the community to hold the boy’s family in thought and to honor his memory. He announced that school counselors would be available to help students and staff navigate the grief.
“There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss,” Nichols said, describing the student as a cherished member of the school family whose absence will leave an irreplaceable void in classrooms and hallways.
Authorities continue to examine the incident, seeking answers that might prevent such heart‑breaking tragedies in the future.
