Tubing Company At Fault for Girl's Drowning

A federal report released Thursday by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area concludes that a Gwinnett County outfitting company failed to warn a group of tubers on June 3 of pending Buford Dam releases as they are required to do under their federal permit to operate. As a result,

According to the Gwinnett Daily Post, the report describes a flotilla of tubers who were caught off guard and thrust into chaos by a 2:55 p.m. release about 21⁄2 miles upstream.

Anna Van Horn of Peachtree City had become entangled in a partially submerged tree near the river’s west bank. When rushing waters capsized her tube, she was swept into a second tree “and was overtaken by the increasing flow of water."

Patty Wissinger, superintendent of the national recreation area, said the tubing company's permit has been pulled and legal ramifications are possible in the ongoing investigation.