A man is missing after a boat he was in took a sharp turn and ejected two people into the Columbia River near the north end of Broughton Beach Park Sunday afternoon.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports emergency responders from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies responded to the location after the sheriff’s office received a report that the boat had crashed around 1:55 p.m. Sunday.
Witnesses saw the boat moving along the north end of Broughton Beach Park, when the driver made a sharp turn, causing the boat to rock suddenly and ejecting both the driver and a passenger into the water.
Witnesses went to help the men and the driver of the boat was rescued by a private boat. The passenger, however, did not resurface after he submerged.
He was not wearing a life jacket, officials said.
Responders searched the area by air, boat and underwater for several hours, but the man was not located.
Officials said the boat operator is cooperating with the ongoing investigation and impairment doesn’t appear to have been a factor in the incident.