[kellyhound]

A salmon fisherman who abandoned ship by leaping into the frigid waters of the Columbia River last summer -- an instant before another motorboat crashed into his -- has filed a $372,500 lawsuit against the other driver.

Clatsop County sheriff’s deputies accused boat driver Marlin Lee Larsen of several crimes after the 75-year-old told investigators he couldn’t see where he was driving because he was sitting down and the dash of his boat was blocking his view. Larsen said he probably should have been standing, according to the sheriff’s report, which notes Larsen uses a motorized scooter to get around on land.

Larsen’s son-in-law, who also was on the boat, told investigators that he had warned his father-in-law to pay attention, that he sometimes sees his father-in-law using his cell phone while driving the boat and that his father-in-law had been off-and-on his cell phone the morning of the crash, according to the sheriff’s report.

Although Oregon law heavily restricts cell phone use while driving, there are no such specific laws governing boating. But it is against the law to operate a boat without due care.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, claims Larsen was boating while distracted by his cell phone on the morning of the Aug. 12, 2017, when the crash occurred near the mouth of the Columbia at the Pacific Ocean, just east of Fort Stevens State Park.

The suit was filed by Bryan Maess, 47, an off-duty Hermiston police officer fishing with a law-enforcement co-worker, Christopher McMahon, 46. Another friend, Roni Durham, 57, a Clatskanie resident, also was aboard.

A GoPro camera mounted to the Weldcraft fishing boat captured the frantic seconds as Larsen’s Bayliner Trophy motorboat speeds directly at them. McMahon can be seen waving his arms and yelling in an attempt to get Larsen to steer clear -- just before the trio jump into the water.

The video encourages boaters to wear life jackets. Maess and McMahon weren't wearing life jackets. Durham was, but it didn't inflate.

Sheriff’s investigators wrote that it was likely Maess and the others would have been seriously injured or killed if they hadn’t jumped into the water.

Maess suffered vision problems, headaches and injuries to his ankle, leg and arm from jumping into the water or being struck by debris, according to the suit. Five months after the crash, he wears a knee brace, the suit says.

McMahon and Durham also suffered injuries, including cuts or hypothermia. They haven’t filed suit against Larsen but have hired attorneys who say they plan to.

Portland attorney Josh Lamborn said his client, Durham, also has suffered psychological trauma and, even though fishing is a big part of her life, hasn’t been able to go back out on a boat since the crash.

[RiversEdge]

yeah, at the very least; a civil lawsuit. Hope they took away his license.

[AlvinKarpis]

Thank god they all jumped overboard when they did

[REVZZYBAN]

Escaped & not a second too soon!

[Necrotic Bowel]

“Jumped” in the water?

More like fell over the side.

Fatsos.

[minka1]

I remember this case on Unsloved Mysteries, from the 90s. Where a 2 friends were in their small boat at night. Out of the dark another boat, speeding, came crashing right over them and kept on driving.
Since it was night, the speeding murder boat didn’t have any lights, they didn’t know where it was coming from...something like that.
It left one of the people basically decapitated and shredded. Another girl had an amputation or 2.
Anyway. Just reminds me of that case. Glad these 3 people were able to escape unharmed!

[REVZZYBAN]

^^ Seen that one too. The boat owner/operator,"allegedly drunk" ,fled the scene with an accomplice. He actually dug a hole & buried the boat on his property. He got caught & only a slap on the hand.

[minka1]

Originally Posted by REVZZYBAN ↗

^^ Seen that one too. The boat owner/operator,"allegedly drunk" ,fled the scene with an accomplice. He actually dug a hole & buried the boat on his property. He got caught & only a slap on the hand.

Ohhhh Holy Shit they caught him! Wow! Do you know names so I can google it?!
Fucking nutjob, buried the boat?! And from what you’re saying, got away with it.
Wow!