Rescuers pluck boaters from Willamette River.

Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard

Twenty rescuers turned out Sunday evening to come to the aid of seven boaters whose cobbled-together vessel hit a snag and tossed them into the Willamette River.

The five adults and two children put in at Whitely Boat Ramp just off River Loop Road late in the afternoon. The group had tied inner tubes to a couple of life rafts.

While the two children - each under 10 years old - wore personal flotation devices, none of the adults had them, Lane County marine patrol deputy Paul Vitus said.

They went into the water at a place where the river curves left and winter storms had deposited downed trees and other debris to the right.

"I wasn't surprised by the location itself because it's an area of the river that could be deemed hazardous," Vitus said.

After the group went into the water, three people rescued themselves and called 911 just before 7 p.m.

Rescuers plucked the other four off an island several miles downstream, Vitus said.

One of the passengers was pulled underwater when he became entangled by the rope that was holding the rig together.

"Then they got caught in another tree downstream," Vitus said. "They were battling for quite a while trying to stay alive."

Junction City Fire, Lane Rural Fire and the Harrisburg Fire departments all sent crews and equipment to help Lane County Search and Rescue retrieve the boaters.

The incident is under investigation, and alcohol was involved, Vitus said. The boaters could face citations for boating under the influence of intoxicants and failing to have life vests on board.

If cited, they could reduce the amount of the fines they would face by buying life vests and agreeing to enroll in boating education courses, Vitus said.

Altogether, it was a busy weekend for the county's marine patrol, Vitus said. Rescuers responded to two drownings, handed out eight citations for boating under the influence, and responded to an accident on Fall Creek in which a boat ran into the dam and six people went in the water.

All of the victims in the Willamette River accident were treated for moderate hypothermia and minor injuries by medical units standing by at the Marshall Island boat access ramp.

Wearing a personal flotation device on the Willamette River, with its swift currents and changing conditions, is just common sense, Vitus said. Children under the age of 12 are required to wear life vests, and adults must have them on board their boats.

"You're not required to wear them, but we highly suggest it," Vitus said. "We wear life jackets when we're on the water."