Family safe after raft flips on Arkansas

SALIDA, Colo. ” A vacationing family of six, including two children, is safe after a close call on the Arkansas River in Chaffee County.

Authorities say the Fort Worth, Texas family and their commercial guide were rafting down the river just before 3 p.m. Tuesday when their raft flipped over about 3 miles east of Salida.

Chaffee County Sheriff Tim Walker said two family members swam to the south riverbank, while the others reached an inaccessible area on the north riverbank.

Stephen Thompson climbed up from the river to U.S. 50 and flagged down a driver who called for help.

Crews from at least three agencies went in on foot and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles to reach the stranded rafters, who were taken to a Salida hospital for observation and treatment.