Boat crash reported near Harrison

HARRISON — A 55-year-old Careywood man was charged with operating under the influence after a boat crash was reported Sunday night near Harrison, Kootenai County Sheriff's Office deputies reported.

Patrol and marine deputies responded at 9:20 p.m. after a witness observed a boat moving north on Lake Coeur d'Alene toward the Coeur d'Alene River at a high rate of speed, and heard it crash into the slough.

The deputies, KCSO Dive Rescue Team, U.S. Coast Guard and personnel from multiple fire and medical agencies spent about an hour looking for the boat in the dark, before finding the wrecked vessel about 150 feet from the lake, KCSO reported.

David Mendenhall and his son, Jared Mendenhall, 26, of Coeur d'Alene, were the only two occupants of the vehicle, deputies reported. Alcohol and speed appear to be factors in the crash, deputies reported, and the elder Mendenhall was charged with operating under the influence.