ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Two Montana women who had only been in Alaska a few hours have been identified as the drowning victims on Eagle River.
Anchorage police say in a release the victims were 60-year-old Fern Johnson of Plains, Mont., and her friend, 48-year-old Carol Heater of Kalispell.
They were in a canoe Wednesday with Fern’s husband, Robert Johnson, accompanied by Eagle River resident Robert Voris in a kayak.
Police say they put the canoe up against a logjam in the river 10 miles north of Anchorage. Police say they attempted to paddle to the east bank but were caught in a faster current, and the canoe overturned.
Robert Johnson was able to get on the logjam, but the two women got caught under it and drowned.
All were wearing life preservers.