An annual class trip meant to give Sag Harbor sixth graders a few days of adventure in the Poconos ended in heartbreak this week, after 12-year-old Cesar Albarracin Guncay of Pierson Middle School died during a river-rafting outing on the Lehigh River. School officials said Cesar was taking part in a rafting session when the group’s float flipped and he went into the water. The small East End community has quickly rallied around his family, and the Sag Harbor School District has brought in counselors to help students and staff process the loss.
The Carbon County Coroner’s Office said Cesar fell into the Lehigh River in East Penn Township on Wednesday, and that members of the Lehighton Fire Department Dive Team pulled him from the water. Chief Deputy Coroner Jason T. Smith pronounced him dead at 6:50 p.m., and an autopsy was scheduled for Thursday, according to NBC 10 Philadelphia.
In a message to district families, Superintendent Jeff Nichols described Cesar as “a cherished member of our school family” and acknowledged the enormity of the loss, writing, “There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss.” He told parents that all other students on the trip were accounted for and that counselors were being made available. The rest of the class returned to Sag Harbor at about 2 a.m., as reported by The East Hampton Star.
State Investigators Probe Capsized Raft
State fish-and-boat officials said a large group of boaters was on a raft that overturned in the Carbon County stretch of the Lehigh River, and investigators are now working to piece together what led to the flip. Authorities have not yet said how many students were on the water when the raft capsized or clarified whether proper life jackets were in use. The investigation remains active as officials gather more details, according to NBC New York.
District Offers Counseling and Resources
In the hours after the tragedy, the Sag Harbor School District circulated crisis-counseling information and shared links to local hotlines for families and staff. Officials said school counselors would be on campus in the coming days to support students and employees. Community groups and parents have also begun organizing informal networks of support, while school leaders urged residents to respect the family’s privacy as they grieve, according to The East Hampton Star.
Autopsy and Next Steps
The Carbon County Coroner’s Office said the scheduled autopsy will determine the cause and manner of Cesar’s death, as state and local investigators continue interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence along the river. Agencies are coordinating their efforts, and officials have said they will release additional findings once testing and interviews are complete, per NBC 10 Philadelphia.
The Sag Harbor School District has asked residents to keep Cesar’s family in their thoughts and to continue respecting their privacy while authorities pursue the investigation. Officials from the district and the county coroner’s office said they plan to provide further updates as new information becomes available, according to NBC New York.
