Two drownings at state parks in Garfield County in six days

PRESS RELEASE
May 20, 2024

On May 12, 2024, at 7:40 p.m., the Garfield County Coroner’s Office was dispatched to a report of a male who went missing at Rifle Gap State Park while paddleboarding. The coroner’s office responded and met with law enforcement and family learning the decedent had been paddleboarding with his girlfriend on Rifle Gap Reservoir. Neither were wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) and the decedent did not have a paddleboard leash to keep his board near him in the event of a fall. The decedent’s girlfriend reported that he was using marijuana prior to paddleboarding. She also reported that a strong wind gust knocked them off their paddleboards and they fell into the water. The decedent was unable to get to his board and after several minutes she lost sight of him.

The decedent was identified as Diego Gutierrez Caraveo, a 26-year-old male, and resident of New Castle, CO. The decedent was recovered from the bottom of Rifle Gap Reservoir at a depth of 43 feet. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office Water Rescue Team along with members of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife recovered the decedent. Multiple agencies assisted Colorado Parks & Wildlife with the initial response to Rifle Gap State Park. Those agencies included the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Garfield County Search & Rescue, Colorado River Fire Rescue, and Classic Air Medical. On May 14, 2024, the Garfield County Coroner’s Office contract forensic pathologist performed an autopsy. The findings were consistent with drowning and the manner of death is being investigated as an accident.

On May 18, 2024, at 4:58 p.m., the Garfield County Coroner’s Office was dispatched to a report of a male who went missing at Harvey Gap State Park while paddleboarding. The coroner’s office responded and met with law enforcement and family and learned the decedent had been paddleboarding with friends. The decedent and the friends were not wearing PFDs and the decedent was not wearing a leash attaching him to the paddleboard. The decedent had reportedly consumed some beer prior to paddleboarding. The friends reported that the conditions became windy and the paddleboarders fell off the paddleboard. The decedent disappeared under the water shortly after.

The decedent was identified as Kelvin Velis Rivera, a 28-year-old male and resident of El Jebel, CO. The decedent was recovered from the bottom of Grass Valley Reservoir at a depth of 42 feet. The Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Marine Evidence Recovery Team responded from the Denver area and recovered the decedent. Multiple agencies assisted Colorado Parks & Wildlife with the initial response to Harvey Gap State Park. Those agencies included the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado River Fire Rescue, and CareFlight of the Rockies. An autopsy is scheduled for May 20, 2024. The death is being investigated as a drowning and the manner of death is being investigated as an accident.

Respectfully,

Robert M. Glassmire
Garfield County Coroner