Tragedy at our lake
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:11 pm
CULVER, Ore. -
A Madras father and son on a water-skiing outing at Lake Billy Chinook both apparently drowned Thursday morning after the son fell from his skis and the father turned the boat around, possibly hitting his son, before diving in to try to rescue him, said Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins.
The body of Mark Harris, 37, was recovered from the water shortly after the incident, reported around 11 a.m. on the Crooked River arm of the lake at Cove Palisades State Park, just above the bridge over the Crooked River, Adkins told NewsChannel 21.
An extensive search quickly began -- at first on the water surface, then with divers from Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue -- for the father, identified by Adkins as Eugene Harris, 73.
The sheriff said the son, who was water skiing, was wearing a mini-wet suit but not a life jacket when his body was found..
Murky water kept crews busy and created challenges as they searched for any sign of the second man's body. Adkins said the farming father and son had traveled to the lake to get in some water skiing before work.
"Unfortunately, the visual depth of the water, it's maybe four or five feet deep," said sheriff's Det. Starla Green. "We can't see very far, because the water is so murky at this point."
Crews kept other boats away from the ski area, pushing them back and closing it off to the public.
For many people who were looking for a relaxing day on the lake, it was a reminder for them to be extra careful and remember the dangers the water can hold.
"The park ranger came up and told us to be really careful today because there was two fatalities," said visitor Becky Heinrick. "It's something that you definitely don't like to see."
And for police, who have seen these types of tragic situations in the past, they have a reminder for others who get in the water.
"Make sure you have a minimum of three people on your boat, one for a spotter and one for an operator," Green said. "That's basically the requirements for this body of water, is making sure you have three people in a boat at all times."
Authorities were interviewing witnesses to piece together what occurred. Adkins, who knew the two men personally, said he did not believe alcohol was involved in the tragedy.
Adkins said no one reported seeing where Mark Harris was skiing, but a witness reported seeing the father jump in the lake and his head bobbed up before disappearing.
The depth of water in the area being searched was not immediately known, but Adkins said the popular boating lake west of Culver is 110 feet deep at its deepest point. The divers were prepared to go about 50 feet down in their recovery effort, the sheriff added.
Adkins said the search effort was wrapping up for the night around 6 p.m. He said they would be back out searching the water on Friday morning, and that Multnomah or Klamath County sonar units will be brought in to assist in the recovery effort.
The sheriff said the family had been notified and advised it could be a lengthy process.
Adkins said searchers rana camera back and forth across the lake, looking for a sight to dive.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office had four rescue boats searching in the water, while Warm Springs tribal police and the state Parks and Recreation Department each also had a boat assisting in what was being called a recovery effort.
Sheriff's deputies contacted the Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue coordinator about bringing a dive team to the location where the person last was seen, Adkins said.
A Madras father and son on a water-skiing outing at Lake Billy Chinook both apparently drowned Thursday morning after the son fell from his skis and the father turned the boat around, possibly hitting his son, before diving in to try to rescue him, said Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins.
The body of Mark Harris, 37, was recovered from the water shortly after the incident, reported around 11 a.m. on the Crooked River arm of the lake at Cove Palisades State Park, just above the bridge over the Crooked River, Adkins told NewsChannel 21.
An extensive search quickly began -- at first on the water surface, then with divers from Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue -- for the father, identified by Adkins as Eugene Harris, 73.
The sheriff said the son, who was water skiing, was wearing a mini-wet suit but not a life jacket when his body was found..
Murky water kept crews busy and created challenges as they searched for any sign of the second man's body. Adkins said the farming father and son had traveled to the lake to get in some water skiing before work.
"Unfortunately, the visual depth of the water, it's maybe four or five feet deep," said sheriff's Det. Starla Green. "We can't see very far, because the water is so murky at this point."
Crews kept other boats away from the ski area, pushing them back and closing it off to the public.
For many people who were looking for a relaxing day on the lake, it was a reminder for them to be extra careful and remember the dangers the water can hold.
"The park ranger came up and told us to be really careful today because there was two fatalities," said visitor Becky Heinrick. "It's something that you definitely don't like to see."
And for police, who have seen these types of tragic situations in the past, they have a reminder for others who get in the water.
"Make sure you have a minimum of three people on your boat, one for a spotter and one for an operator," Green said. "That's basically the requirements for this body of water, is making sure you have three people in a boat at all times."
Authorities were interviewing witnesses to piece together what occurred. Adkins, who knew the two men personally, said he did not believe alcohol was involved in the tragedy.
Adkins said no one reported seeing where Mark Harris was skiing, but a witness reported seeing the father jump in the lake and his head bobbed up before disappearing.
The depth of water in the area being searched was not immediately known, but Adkins said the popular boating lake west of Culver is 110 feet deep at its deepest point. The divers were prepared to go about 50 feet down in their recovery effort, the sheriff added.
Adkins said the search effort was wrapping up for the night around 6 p.m. He said they would be back out searching the water on Friday morning, and that Multnomah or Klamath County sonar units will be brought in to assist in the recovery effort.
The sheriff said the family had been notified and advised it could be a lengthy process.
Adkins said searchers rana camera back and forth across the lake, looking for a sight to dive.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office had four rescue boats searching in the water, while Warm Springs tribal police and the state Parks and Recreation Department each also had a boat assisting in what was being called a recovery effort.
Sheriff's deputies contacted the Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue coordinator about bringing a dive team to the location where the person last was seen, Adkins said.