1 dead, 3 missing in boating accident

PRIEST RIVER — One person has died and three others are missing following a boating accident Tuesday on the Pend Oreille River, according to the Bonner County Sheriff's Office.

Bonner County Undersheriff Ror Lakewold said emergency crews were advised just after 7 p.m. that a performance boat had capsized on the river in the Thama area, about two miles from Priest River and roughly 16 miles from Sandpoint.

The ages, genders, and identities of those on the boat are not being released at this time, Lakewold said.

One person who was on the boat has been recovered and is deceased. The three other boat occupants remain missing.

While crews were not able to recover the 34-foot MTI boat Tuesday night, Lakewold said the Bonner County Sheriff's Office was able to secure it Wednesday morning.

The boat was recovered in roughly the same area where the deceased individual was located.

Currently, five Bonner County Sheriff's Office boats are on scene in the area, as is the sheriff's office's dive team, as the search continues for those who were on the boat, Lakewold said.

The single boat accident is under investigation to determine what may have caused the boat to capsize.

While conditions on the river in the area are relatively calm, Lakewold said there is a slight current in the area. He did not know what role, if any, that played in the accident.

Lakewold said the sheriff's office plans to release an update on the accident within the next few days.