Inspection Detail

Inspection: 115237133 - Roza Irrigation Dist

Inspection Information - Office: Dosh Yakima Service Location, Yakima, Wa

Investigation Summary

At 9:46 a.m. on March 15, 1997, Employees #1 and 32, both scuba divers, entered siphon #4 to salvage some vehicles that had washed down the Roza Canal. The siphon was 13 ft in circumference and 2,310 ft long, and was filled with water. Before descending, Employees #1 and #2 told their support crew that they had enough air for one hour of diving. After about 45 minutes, their bubbles stopped coming to the surface. When an hour had passed, search and rescue personnel were called. The bodies of Employees #1 and #2 were recovered on March 17, 1997. According to the Yakima County Coroner, both men died from drowning.

Keywords: SCUBA, DIVING, DROWN, COMMERCIAL DIVING, WATER