Document text
Man presumed drowned in boat accident on river A White City woman remained hospitalized Sunday and her companion was presumed drowned following a boating accident Saturday along the Rogue River. Donna Hix, 36, was upgraded from critical to serious condition Sunday at the Washington campus of Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass. Josephine County sheriff's deputies believe 42-year-old Walter Howell, also of White City, drowned in the accident but have not found his body. Howell and Hix were passengers in a boat driven by John Neely, 41, of Medford. The three were boating near Whitehorse Park on Saturday morning when the 15-foot drift boat, which had a small motor, was swept from its course by high and fast water. The boat capsized after striking a tree that deputies said would have been part of the shore were it not for the high water. Neely, who was not injured, swam to shore but could not spot his passengers and alerted authorities. Hix was missing in the river for more than an hour after the accident before rescue personnel found her floating in the water, authorities said. "It was a near drowning," said hospital spokeswoman Leslie deSchweinitz. "She was face down in the water for some time." Deputies said the high, fast water made searching for Howell futile on Sunday. There was no indication as to when they would resume the search. The boat and three life jackets were recovered but none of those in the boat was wearing a life preserver when the boat overturned. State law requires boaters to carry a life jacket for each person aboard but does not require adults to wear them. Deputies will continue to investigate the accident but do not expect any criminal charges to be filed. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA