Local couple drown in rafting accident John and Elizabeth Rizas of Beaufort were on vacation in Wyoming when boat capsized

Beaufort residents John Rizas, 63, and Elizabeth "Betty" Rizas, 58, were two of three people who died Friday morning after a rafting accident on the Snake River, about a mile north of Moose, Wyo., in the southern part of Grand Teton National Park.

The Rizases and Linda Clark, 69, of Shreveport, La., were identified Saturday as victims of Friday's accident.

Park spokeswoman Joan Anzelmo said the commercial float trip went awry after the boat capsized on the river. "They were on a boat trip," Anzelmo said Saturday. "Most of the people, 10 people, survived, but three drowned."

She said the accident is under investigation.

A Saturday news release from the park said the Rizases, Clark and 10 other passengers were floating on the river on a raft as a part of a 10-mile scenic float trip when they overturned in the cold, swift water.

Personnel were able to rescue 10 of the passengers from the water, including the boatman from Grand Teton Lodge Co., a park concessionaire, which confirmed that each of the passengers was wearing a flotation device, as required by park regulations.

Two victims were given CPR and airlifted to a nearby medical center but could not be revived. Rescuers found a third victim submerged in a logjam.

Beaufort resident Claire Ketcham, a friend of the Rizases for more than 15 years, said the retirees moved to Beaufort about a year and a half ago from southern Maryland.

They lived at 6 Le Chene Circle in Habersham.

"They are just two of the most outstanding people you would ever want to meet," said Ketcham, who had found out about the accident only minutes before.

Ketcham was taking care of the Rizases' home while they were on vacation. They were scheduled to return Thursday.

Ketcham said the couple had three daughters and a son who live in various places in the country.

Ken Troupe and his wife, Cally Heppner, live down the street from the Rizases' home.

Troupe, a builder, helped construct the Rizases' home. He said they were quiet, good people who were active members of St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady's Island.

Before Friday's accident, only three people had drowned in the Snake River within the park's borders in the past 56 years. About 63,000 people float the river each summer, according to the park.

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