Investigators correct details of woman’s death on Willamette River

Looking west from the Hawthorne Bridge – Photo courtesy of Multnomah County

PORTLAND, Oregon (COIN) — The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a woman who reportedly hit by a boat last weekend while relaxing on the Willamette River.

The woman who died in the incident was identified by officials as 24-year-old Kaileigh Seidel. Additionally, the sheriff’s office said they originally gave an “inaccurate” description of events. Officials now say the woman was struck by a boat while riding on an inflatable dinghy that was being towed by another boat. They originally said she fell off a boat and was struck by another boat, but have since stated that this is not true.

Emergency crews, including the Portland Fire Department and American Medical Response, rushed to the scene just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, after receiving reports that “a person traveling on an inflatable raft being towed by a boat that collided with another boat on the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge,” officials said.

A press release from the MCSO states: “The individual, later identified as Seidel, was transported via one of the boats involved to the south dock of the Riverplace Marina, where he was encountered by emergency responders. Paramedics transported Seidel to the hospital.”

MSCO and the River Patrol also responded around 8:05 p.m. and arrived at the dock “to take a report of the incident.”

Seidel was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. The sheriff’s office then launched a death investigation.

The MCSO said the case will be forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, which will make the final decision on whether to file charges.

The investigation is ongoing, officials said.