After being reported missing for more than a month, a petition named after Eric Ashby has been created as a proposed, “Duty to Report” law.
Ashby has been missing for more than a month after he reportedly fell off of a raft in June.
According to a news release from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, deputies first received a report regarding the incident after someone called about a possible river accident in the area of Sunshine Falls on June 28.
The caller said he saw a raft flip and multiple people go into the water, but one of them never made it back to the shore.
On July 26, the FCSO sent out a news release detailing the search and rescue efforts being made to find Ashby.
“Recent heavy rains that have muddied the waters of the Arkansas and increased the river flow contributed to difficult conditions faced by search teams,” the news release said.
On July 28, a body was discovered in the Arkansas River east of Florence, but the identity remains unknown and the autopsy results are still pending.
The petition proposes “Eric’s Law,” which would require anyone who witnesses a dangerous situation where someone’s life is in danger to immediately call 911.
“This is not a ‘Duty to Rescue’ law that requires an individual to risk their personal safety, this is just a phone call, something pretty much everyone can do, especially in the age of cell phones,” the petition’s letter states online.
It goes on to say that nine other states already have a law similar to the one proposed, adding that there is no reason someone should be left to die when help is easily accessible.
According to the petition’s letter, “Ashby was on an excursion with four other people when he was swept away by the fast, class four rapids. His companions saw him desperately clinging to a rock, but they didn’t call for help.”
It states they did not report the incident until 10 days later.
At this time, criminal charges are not expected to be filed against any of the people who left Ashby without reporting it.
The petition created states, “the people who left him will not face criminal charges because Colorado’s existing duty to report law only extends to instances of child abuse and neglect.”
As of Thursday, the petition was aiming to garner 15,000 signatures and has thus far received more than 12,000. Once signatures are gathered it will be sent to Rep. Jim Wilson.
The Daily Record attempted to reach out to Rep. Wilson on Thursday by phone and email but was unable to reach him for comment.
To read the full petition letter and sign it, visit https://www.change.org/p/support-eric-s-law-a-law-that-requires-people-to-report-life-threatening-situations.
Sarah Matott: 719-276-7648, matotts@canoncitydailyrecord.com
