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Rogue wave reportedly kills teen White City youth was on California field trip By JILL BRISKEY Del Norte County officials continue to search for the body of a 16-year-old White City boy who was knocked off his feet and swept into the ocean by a rogue wave while tidepooling Tuesday. Witnesses said that Justin Hadley, who is presumed dead, hit his head when he fell and did not struggle after being pulled to sea. Hadley was in Crescent City, Calif., on a field trip with the Lithia Boys Program when the accident happened. Hadley was in the custody of the Oregon Youth Authority. According to Del Norte County sheriff�s Capt. Douglas Plack, daily searches have failed to locate Hadley�s body. Efforts will continue throughout the weekend if weather permits, he added. "We had plans to send divers out but the winds kicked up and made it near impossible," Plack said. The group was tidepooling between Ninth Street and Pebble Beach Drive in Crescent City, Plack said � a rocky stretch of beach open to the public but unsupervised. "It is a treacherous area," Plack said. "Like anything else, you have to be cautious of rogue waves, currents or under-currents." Plack said the group had hiked to an island-like rock when a rogue wave struck, knocking several people down. Survivors reported that Hadley struck his head before he tumbled into the ocean. "It�s just a tragic accident," he added. Central Point resident Deby Hadley, who was married to Justin Hadley�s father for several years, said the family is postponing memorial arrangements in hopes that the teen�s body will be found this week in time for a funeral service. "They know he positively did drown," Deby Hadley said. "When he fell, he just floated. He didn�t even struggle." Another student, Jeremy McGee, of Grants Pass, also fell into the water but was able to swim back to the rocks before the current swept him away. A press release from the Oregon Youth Authority stated that McGee was treated at a nearby hospital for minor cuts and released. Deby Hadley said she was told that the surviving students reported seeing Justin strike his head as he fell to the water. She wonders if a lifeguard could have saved her stepson. "I�m wondering if it would have made a difference," Deby Hadley said. "It�s impossible to say. All I know is that God works in mysterious ways." According to OYA executive assistant Karen Andall, area emergency services, law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard searched for Hadley for about three hours Tuesday. The search was called off because of poor weather and visibility. Teens in the group were students at Lithia Boys Program in Ashland, a residential treatment home for troubled teens ages 13 to 18. According to Andall, Hadley was placed in the residential treatment program as part of his probation. McGee is on parole, having served time at a youth accountability camp. Both boys have been in the youth authority�s custody for about a year, Andall said. "It was a teenage thing," Deby Hadley said of Hadley�s previous behavior. "He was doing so well." Justin Hadley was crazy about fishing, monster trucks, the outdoors and art, Deby Hadley remembers. "I�m sure that he was loving it," she said of the field trip. The 11 boys and five staff members returned to Medford late Wednesday, said Community Works Executive Director Arnie Green. Counseling from "critical incident" experts was offered as a wide range of emotions surfaced among Hadley�s fellow students, Green added. "There are a number of people in the county ... who have been trained to deal with these types of incidents," Green said. "Both the staff and students who returned met with those professionals." Green said treatment and counseling will be provided to staff and students as long as they need it. "Grief takes a long time, and needs to be expressed," he added. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.