Fatal boating accident still under investigation

A Lake Coeur d'Alene boating accident that claimed the lives of three people last summer remains under investigation.

On the evening of July 30, Justin Luhr, 34, of Medical Lake, Wash., and his two passengers, Justin Honken, 21, of Post Falls, and Caitlin Breeze, 21, of Spokane were killed when the 1989 Formula 223LS they were aboard was reportedly struck by a southbound 2011 Mastercraft near Threemile Point.

The five people aboard the Mastercraft — Dennis D. Magner, 50, Spokane; Jonathan C. Sweat, 40, Spokane; Alejanero M. Gutierriz, 33, Arlington, Wash.; Skye S. Neversorry, 24, Spokane; and Paige L. Archer, 25, of Hayden — suffered minor injuries.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, which is conducting the investigation, initially said the reported driver of the Mastercraft showed no signs of drugs or alcohol at the scene, but would not release the driver's name.

"The primary investigator is still waiting on several accident reconstruction reports to be completed," said KCSO detective and public information officer Dennis Stinebaugh on Wednesday. "Once those are completed and received, the investigator will have to review this information. He then will be able to summarize and submit the final report for review by the Prosecutor’s Office. As far as a time frame, I can assure you it’s being completed as quickly as possible without compromising thoroughness.”

Accident reconstruction is a scientific approach to determine why an accident occurred.

The Formula, which was struck around 9:15 p.m., was reportedly stationary when it was hit.

“Witnesses on the Mastercraft are claiming the boat was completely blacked out and not moving,” a dispatcher said the night of the crash.