Blackfoot River Drowning Victim Identified

Missoula Sheriff's Department Detective Captain Rich Maricelli has released the name of the 70 year-old woman who drowned after a rafting accident Tuesday afternoon on the Blackfoot River. The woman's name is Maxcine Viola Smith of Gresham, Oregon. I spoke with Detective Maricelli about the incident on Wednesday afternoon. Parts lof that interview are attached.

Maricelli says the family checked with the Forest Service as to whether the river was closed to rafting. They were told it was not closed. Everyone on the raft was wearing a life-jacket.