Boat was carrying donated groceries before fatal accident Anchorage Daily News (09-10-12) The bodies of 2 men have been recovered after a boating accident in Goodnews Bay on Fri (09-07). The search for a 3rd passenger on the boat continues. Alaska State Troopers say two people were returning to Goodnews from Platinum with another person with groceries when they sank. The bodies of Occupant1 and Operator were recovered and sent to the state med. examiner's office in Anchorage. As of Mon. morning (09-10), the body of Occupant2 had not been found. The 2 men were married to sisters of Occupant2. "The 3 were bringing donated food from the Platinum fish processing plant," said a retired teacher who once had Operator as a student. The Coastal Villages Seafood plant customarily distributes remaining food to residents of Platinum and Goodnews Bay when it closes down for the season, said Platinum health aide, who was involved in the search. From Goodnews Bay village at the head of the bay to Platinum on the S. shore of the mouth of the bay is about 12 mi. The 3 were traveling in a flat-bottom boat, about 20 ft. long, with an inboard V-8. He said he did not think the boat was overloaded. But it was designed for river travel, with low sides, and could have swamped in a rough sea. Trooper spokesperson said conditions at the time included a strong W. wind and an outgoing tide, which could have created rough water in the bay. Search assistant said that one of the men made a call to family on a cell phone as the boat was going down. A search party was launched from Platinum, Troopers said, and rescuers were guided to the site by a Yute Aviation pilot who spotted the bodies of the 2 men in the water. The victims were brought to Platinum and pronounced dead after efforts to resuscitate them were unsuccessful. By noon Mon., Occupant2's body had not yet been found. Search assistant was part of the party that located the sunken boat under 10 ft. of water about 4 miles from Platinum. "We can't conjecture on anything regarding why it sank until we raise the boat," he said, adding that would take time, the right equipment, luck and a low tide. "Right now all the search and rescue efforts are going to find remaining victim," he said. "There's no dive gear here or in Bethel." Subject confirmed that the boat had not yet been raised. "We are hoping that after it is recovered we may find some indication why it sank," she said.
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