Niles Police Identify St. Joseph River Kayak Accident Victim

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Niles Police say the man who died in a kayak accident on the St. Joseph River on New Year’s Day was 40-year-old Jean Claude Mutabazi of South Bend. The three surviving kayakers have been identified as 37-year-old Pierre Celestin of Berkeley, California, 81-year-old Ted Knudson of South Bend, and 72-year-old Tom Lehman of South Bend. Niles Fire Chief Larry Lamb says rescue crews spent about four hours looking for Mutabazi.

Two of the three survivors were treated and released from Lakeland Hospital Niles for exposure. All four were still wearing their life jackets when they were found.

The Berrien County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine the cause of Matubazi’s death.