A Nevada pastor celebrating his wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska died at Glacier Point Monday after a canoe capsized during a trip with Skagway-based Alaska Excursions—a tour company that faced public scrutiny this spring when former employees alleged poor maintenance habits and unsafe tour practices.
Steven Todd Willis, 50, was one of 10 guests who went into the water after the canoe rolled in the swift moving river, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The canoe tipped, spilling guests and guide into “a rapids area on the glacial fed river,” according to an Alaska State Trooper dispatch. The river’s water level was reported to be higher than normal.
“It appeared the engine didn’t start immediately when they got into the rapid water and were overcome by the current,” AST spokesperson Tim DeSpain said. “[The canoe] overturned in high water not long after it was launched from the head of the river.”
The Coast Guard diverted a helicopter, already en route to Skagway, to the scene, said operations unit controller for Coast Guard sector Juneau Scott Cichoracki.
Ten people made it to shore, but Willis was unaccounted for. The helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer into the water who found Willis unresponsive, Cichoracki said.
All of the passengers, including Willis, were wearing lifejackets. Willis was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m., about two-and-a-half hours after the troopers received the emergency call.
Willis’ wife was among the passengers who went into the water, borough manager Debra Schnabel told assembly members Monday.
Willis’ remains were transported to Juneau and later released to “the next of kin whom had also been an occupant of the overturned canoe,” the dispatch said.
More than 10 former Alaska Excursions employees publicly criticized the company earlier this year when it applied for a new commercial ATV tour permit with the Haines Borough.
Former manager Sam Edwards and other guides wrote to the borough assembly last spring criticizing the company’s negligence in maintaining skiffs used to transport guides to and from Glacier Point, along with the outboard motors on its canoes. “The maintenance on the skiffs, busses, ATVs, and canoe motors was extremely spotty and it was often very hard to get a mechanic to come out, even when we were on the verge of not being able to run the trip,” Edwards wrote in March.
Other former employees said the company pressured boat captains to run trips in unsafe weather. Some complained the Glacier Point camp lacked critical medical supplies such as an automated defibrillator.
Alaska Excursions owner Robert Murphy, along with more than 10 of his employees, disputed the claims. He issued cease-and-desist warnings to several employees who criticized the company.
After several public hearings, the borough assembly voted 3-3 in March to approve Alaska Excursions’ new tour permit, with Mayor Jan Hill breaking the tie, on the conditions that the company submit a safety plan and pass a Haines Volunteer Fire Department inspection to verify that lifesaving equipment was onsite.
Alaska Excursions complied and voluntarily agreed to implement its safety plan on their canoe tour, borough clerk Alekka Fullerton said. The safety plan is considered proprietary information and is unavailable for public review, Fullerton said this week.
Murphy issued a press release Monday afternoon offering condolences to those impacted by the “unfortunate incident” and said the company is cooperating with authorities.
Alaska Excursions manager Erin Redington this week declined to comment.
A Nevada pastor celebrating his wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska died at Glacier Point Monday after a canoe capsized during a trip with Skagway-based Alaska Excursions—a tour company that faced public scrutiny this spring when former employees alleged poor maintenance habits and unsafe tour practices.
Steven Todd Willis, 50, was one of 10 guests who went into the water after the canoe rolled in the swift moving river, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The canoe tipped, spilling guests and guide into “a rapids area on the glacial fed river,” according to an Alaska State Trooper dispatch. The river’s water level was reported to be higher than normal.
“It appeared the engine didn’t start immediately when they got into the rapid water and were overcome by the current,” AST spokesperson Tim DeSpain said. “[The canoe] overturned in high water not long after it was launched from the head of the river.”
The Coast Guard diverted a helicopter, already en route to Skagway, to the scene, said operations unit controller for Coast Guard sector Juneau Scott Cichoracki.
Ten people made it to shore, but Willis was unaccounted for. The helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer into the water who found Willis unresponsive, Cichoracki said.
All of the passengers, including Willis, were wearing lifejackets. Willis was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m., about two-and-a-half hours after the troopers received the emergency call.
Willis’ wife was among the passengers who went into the water, borough manager Debra Schnabel told assembly members Monday.
Willis’ remains were transported to Juneau and later released to “the next of kin whom had also been an occupant of the overturned canoe,” the dispatch said.
More than 10 former Alaska Excursions employees publicly criticized the company earlier this year when it applied for a new commercial ATV tour permit with the Haines Borough.
Former manager Sam Edwards and other guides wrote to the borough assembly last spring criticizing the company’s negligence in maintaining skiffs used to transport guides to and from Glacier Point, along with the outboard motors on its canoes. “The maintenance on the skiffs, busses, ATVs, and canoe motors was extremely spotty and it was often very hard to get a mechanic to come out, even when we were on the verge of not being able to run the trip,” Edwards wrote in March.
Other former employees said the company pressured boat captains to run trips in unsafe weather. Some complained the Glacier Point camp lacked critical medical supplies such as an automated defibrillator.
Alaska Excursions owner Robert Murphy, along with more than 10 of his employees, disputed the claims. He issued cease-and-desist warnings to several employees who criticized the company.
After several public hearings, the borough assembly voted 3-3 in March to approve Alaska Excursions’ new tour permit, with Mayor Jan Hill breaking the tie, on the conditions that the company submit a safety plan and pass a Haines Volunteer Fire Department inspection to verify that lifesaving equipment was onsite.
Alaska Excursions complied and voluntarily agreed to implement its safety plan on their canoe tour, borough clerk Alekka Fullerton said. The safety plan is considered proprietary information and is unavailable for public review, Fullerton said this week.
Murphy issued a press release Monday afternoon offering condolences to those impacted by the “unfortunate incident” and said the company is cooperating with authorities.
Alaska Excursions manager Erin Redington this week declined to comment.