LANE COUNTY, Ore. — A 26-year-old Harrisburg man died after becoming trapped in the Willamette River during a water rescue Tuesday afternoon, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 4:40 p.m. on July 14, Lane County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol deputies were notified of a water rescue involving a group of people floating on the Willamette River.
Investigators said the group encountered a snag in the river, allowing most of the individuals to make it safely to the riverbank. However, one man was reported missing.
Eugene Springfield Fire and Rescue crews located the missing man face down in the water and quickly transported him to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead.
The victim was identified as Ervan Dominick Lucia, 26, of Harrisburg.
The investigation determined Lucia had been operating a paddleboard without wearing a life jacket and was tethered to the paddleboard at the time of the incident.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is reminding anyone using local waterways to always wear a properly fitted life jacket. Officials also cautioned against tethering yourself to watercraft or equipment, noting that if a tether is used, it should be designed to break away quickly in an emergency.
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