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Monitor Man Drowns Tubing in Wenatchee with Pig, Driver Survives Dip in Lake Chelan

A 45-year-old Monitor man drowned in the Wenatchee River yesterday, Sunday July 7. The Chelan County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of the man this morning – Ronald J. Ripper.

Ripper had been floating the river with his adult son and his pet pig near Monitor at about 6 o’clock last evening, each on their own tube. According to witnesses, the trio was around the halfway point between Monitor and the Sleepy Hollow Bridge when the pig fell into the river.

Ripper jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue the pig, but was seen struggling to stay afloat. His son yelled to other people floating the river and on the shoreline that his father had disappeared under water. Witnesses were able to locate the pig and take it to shore.

Ripper was eventually located by Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputies downstream near the Sleepy Hollow Bridge and they pulled him to the shore. CPR was initiated as personnel from Chelan County Fire District #1 and Ballard Ambulance arrived on scene and continued lifesaving efforts. After approximately twenty minutes, Ripper was pronounced dead at the scene.


All three occupants of a car escaped after it plunged into Lake Chelan Friday morning. The vehicle drove into the lake just off State Route 150, said Fire Chief Tim Lemon of Chelan Fire District 7.

The accident was on the Chelan side of Rocky Point creating traffic delays. Washington State Patrol was also called to the scene to help with extracting the vehicle.

1 Comments

  1. Lando Calrissian on July 8, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Dan is awesome!

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