Vessel 1, 1961 Larson with an outboard motor was operating upriver (east) on the Spokane River from Johnson Park at Mill River with a passenger sitting in the passenger seat.  At the same time, operator of vessel 2 was sitting in the operator's seat of his 1998 Blue Water on the south side of the river across from the Mill River condos and his passenger was in the bow of the boat fishing facing the south shoreline.  Vessel 1 hit a large wake which caused him to lurch forward pushing the throttle lever down even more causing the vessel to accelerate more.  Vessel 1 turned suddenly to the right possible due to the wake, or steering control issues and within approx 2 seconds vessel 1 struck vessel 2 in the bow area approx 4' back from the tip of the bow on the port side.  Vessel 1 struck vessel 2 between 240 degree and 250 degree angle.  When the two boats collided, vessel 1 pushed down on vessel 2 and started to rotate vessel 2 in a clockwise direction.  Vessel 1 continued to ride up on vessel 2 and the outboard engine, skag and propeller struck the gunwhale of vessel 2.  The boats then separated and vessel 1 continued in the water and struck the shoreline approx 10-15 feet away.  Vessel 2 rotated approx 180 degrees as a result of the accident.  The passenger in vessel 2 who was in the bow was struck by vessel 1 in the back of the head and thrown into the water.  The victim sustained massive head injuries and a fractured skull as a result of the accident, causing his death.  The operator of vessel 1 was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence of alchol.
Coeur d'Alene                 