New York sixth-grader dies in Poconos rafting trip accident

A 12-year-old New York boy died Wednesday when his school's raft capsized on the Lehigh River in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, during an annual class trip to the Poconos, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The death of Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a sixth-grader from Long Island's Sag Harbor School District, renews questions about water-safety protocols on supervised student excursions — a concern relevant to school districts across the country, including those in Southern California whose families frequently travel to popular outdoor destinations.

Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a sixth-grader enrolled in the Sag Harbor School District on Long Island, drowned after his raft overturned and became pinned against a fallen tree in the Lehigh River, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The accident occurred near the Bowmanstown boat ramp off Bowman Road, close to the Route 895 bridge, at approximately 5 p.m.

A large group of students was on the river when the raft flipped. Drone footage reviewed by authorities showed the overturned raft wedged against a downed tree in the current. Carbon County officials said Cesar had already been pulled from the water before a deputy coroner arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The excursion was part of the school district's annual trip to the Poconos region, a popular outdoor destination for student groups from the Northeast and beyond.

Sag Harbor Superintendent Jeff Nichols issued a written statement to families expressing grief over the loss. "There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss," Nichols said. "Cesar was a cherished member of our school family, a child who mattered deeply to all who had the privilege of knowing him. His absence will leave an irreplaceable space in our classrooms, our hallways and our lives."

Nichols also called on the broader school community to support the family. "On behalf of the entire district, we extend our deepest condolences to Cesar's family and loved ones during this extraordinarily difficult time," he said. "We ask our community to honor Cesar's memory and keep his family in our thoughts." School counselors will be available for students and staff in the days ahead, Nichols said.

The cause of the raft's capsizing had not been determined, and Carbon County authorities had not announced any criminal investigation as of Wednesday evening, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.