On July 7, 2012 boat operator and his two passengers were fishing on Hells Canyon Reservoir in his 1989 red 16 foot Tracker bass boat at about 11:00 am.  They were drifting and using the trolling motor when the current strength picked up.  The operator realized they were approaching the bridge and the trolling motor was not strong enough to move them out of the way of the structure because of the current.  Passenger #1 tried to start the motor but it failed to start.  The back port side of the boat hit the pillar of highway 86 bridge, causing the boat to capsize.  This resulted in the operator and 2 passengers to fall out of the boat and into the water.  All of the boaters hung onto the boat and swam into the Idaho shore with the boat, about 1/2 mile nort of highway 86 bridge.
Oxbow, OR                     