GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga.,None — The National Parks Service has shut down a Sugar Hill river tubing company after a 9-year-old girl drowned during one of the company's tubing trips.
The Parks Service revoked the permit of All South Tubing in Sugar Hill after it discovered several safety protocol violations. NPS was investigating the June 3 outing on the Chattahoochee River that ended tragically. Investigators say 9-year-old Ana Vanhorns tube capsized and she drowned when she was overtaken by the flow of the river.
On Friday, Channel 2s Kerry Kavanaugh went to the Duluth location of All South Tubing. Kavanaugh spoke to a woman who identified herself as Kay McCoullough, an employee.
"We are heartbroken for the family, but our attorney will not make any comments until their investigation is stopped," she said.
According to the report, All South Tubing did not explain that the Buford Dam would release water during the trip and that a warning horn would sound when that happened.
The National Parks Service said the company's permit required them to discuss what to do if you capsize and explain the effects of hypothermia. According to the report, those issues "were not addressed."
"We've always had strict safety procedures. But I'm sorry until their investigation is done, we can't comment, McCoullough said.
NPS allowed the Duluth location to reapply for a permit with a new stipulation: the company cannot begin any tubing trips within two hours of a dam release.
The Parks Service said it is revamping permits with all tubing companies. It will soon mandate that no tubing company begin a trip on the Chattahoochee within two hours of a scheduled release of the Buford Dam. Currently, tubing companies are only prohibited from doing so if they enter the river on public land. The new rule will cover private land as well.
Kavanaugh spoke to the mother of Ana Vanhorn and the familys attorney over the phone. They also did not want to comment on the incident until they gather more details on the investigation.
NPS said it is awaiting a coroners report, which it will turn over to the U.S. attorney.
WSBTV
