Denver man presumed drowned in Buffalo Rapids

By Ethan Smith
Lake County Leader staff

posted Wednesday August 10, 2005

Four men attempted to swim the Buffalo Rapids last Friday but only three survived, and search and rescue crews have now turned their attention to recovering the body of a Denver man who is presumed drowned.

John Denavarie Quintana, 35, was visiting relatives in the area when he and three other adults apparently decided to swim or float through the Buffalo Rapids located about a mile and a half above Buffalo Bridge, and west of Kerr Dam.

"They jumped in the north side of the rapids, in the right channel. There are different stories as to whether they were trying to float the rapids or swim through them, but we are now in the process of trying to find the body," said Lake County search and rescue coordinator Sgt. Wade Nash.

County dispatch received a call last Friday afternoon about 5:45, about an hour after the drowning took place, Nash said. He said a Flathead Raft Company employee called for help after the other three adults were unable to find Quintana after making it through the rapids. Neither the victim nor the other three were affiliated with the rafting company, which takes rafters down the lower part of the Flathead River all summer long.

The Buffalo Rapids usually vary from Class II to Class III depending on water flow. Nash said Flathead County divers who came down to assist with the search were unable to search much of the rapids because the heavy current tore the masks off their faces. In a brief search they found five pairs of sunglasses, a paddle, a raft frame and several other items, but had to discontinue the search for Quintana's body.

"They couldn't get into the area of the rapids where they thought the body was," Nash said.

Nash said the four had been drinking but that it didn't appear that alcohol had anything to do with the drowning.

Tribal game wardens have been patrolling the area in the morning, Lake County Sheriff's deputies are searching during the day, and search and rescue crews are continuing their search in the evening, Nash said.