Vessel - 2011, 12' Current Designs Kestrel 120 Plastic Kayak 

On 11/21/2013, at about 8:25 p.m., Whitcom advised Whitman County units of a missing person.  The reporting person had called to report his wife along with their small dog, had gone kayaking in the Palouse river earlier in the day (about 2:30 p.m.) and had failed to arrive at her destination in Palouse. 

Subject reported to officers that his wife, Victim, had decided to go kayaking in the Palouse river earlier in the day and he hadn't heard from here since she left.  He also told officers that he had told Victim that she shouldn't go out in the river as the water was too low but she went anyway.  Subject said that he received a text from Victim at 2:22 p.m., telling him she was off and would call him when she got to her destination so he could pick her up.  Normally, Victim would call him on her cell phone when she arrived in Palouse.  Subject said he would go and pick up Victim and then drive her back out to get their vehicle.  He said they had done this several times. 

Subject told officers that when he didn't hear from Victim he went out Wellesley Road into Latah County where she started her kayak trip.  He said at 5:45 p.m., he found their green Ford Explorer parked next to the bridge off of South River Road near the Palouse river where she always parks it.  He said he checked her vehicle and did not find her or the kayak.  Subject said he began checking the river from the roadway on North Palouse River Road and did not see Victim or the kayak. 

Officers asked Subject if Victim was an experienced kayaker and he said "yes".  He said Victim had done this same trip about 30 to 40 times and was familiar with the river.  He said the trip usually took Victim about 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. 

Due to the extreme cold outside temperature (about 25 degrees), Whitman and Latah County deputies began a ground search along the river.  The search continued through the night and into Friday (11/22) morning.  MedStar assisted with the search using their helicopter.  Neither Victim or the kayak were located.  The outside temperature dropped to 16 degrees during the night. 

On 11/22, at about 8:30 p.m., a search crew from Fairchild Air Force Base using a helicopter, located a red kayak in the river.  Searchers responded to the area and were able to locate the kayak which was overturned in the water near the shoreline.  The kayak was found underneath some tree branches.  No body was found at the kayak. 

Searchers then located the deceased body of Victim about 100 yards down river from the kayak.  Victim was found laying on her side on an embankment in the middle of the river.  A small dog was found alive next to her.  Victim was not wearing a PFD and was not dressed appropriately for the cold outside temperature or for cold water immersion.   

It is unknown at this time what caused Victim to overturn in the kayak.  This case will remain active pending the results of the death investigation report from the Whitman County Coroner's Officer.  Updates will be made in BARD as needed upon receipt of any additional information.
 
No injuries / 1 Fatality.
Alcohol involvement is unknown.
There was no damage to the vessel.
The victim was not wearing a PFD.
The operator/victim did not have a mandatory Boater Education Card.
It is not known if any Rules of the Road Violations contributed to the incident.
Palouse