6/25/2024
Polk County, OR. – Official Release: On June 20, 2024 at approximately 5:00 PM Polk, Benton and Linn County deputies along with Polk, Jefferson and Albany fire units responded to a water rescue call involving a kayak that had collided with the Buena Vista Ferry in south Polk County. Upon arrival, units learned that a kayak being operated by Mr. Jacob Anthony Jackson (50), of Monmouth, had experienced a malfunction with the steering mechanism on his vessel and while attempting to fix the issue floated into the path of the ferry as it traveled across the channel. Mr. Jackson’s kayak struck the ferry and was overturned, causing him to fall into the water. Mr. Jackson became trapped under the ferry and failed to resurface.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team responded to the location and found after Mr. Jackson had fallen out of his kayak, his clothing had become entangled in the propeller, drowning as a result. The Linn County Dive Team was able to recover Mr. Jackson.
During the investigation we learned Mr. Jackson was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident; however, he had one with him on the kayak at the time of the incident. This tragic incident is a good reminder to practice water safety and to wear life jackets when operating both motorized and non-motorized vessels.
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