Man dies after boat overturns on Willamette River

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) — The Lane County sheriff's office says a man has died after his pontoon boat flipped over in the Willamette River in Springfield.

Sgt. Carrie Carver says it received reports Saturday at about 6:40 p.m. that a boat overturned after hitting a large, partially submerged root ball. The boater went into the water and didn't resurface.

Companions who were floating with him called for help.

Several agencies responded and located his body in the water.

The sheriff's office says he had a life jacket on board the boat but was not wearing it when the boat overturned. The swift current and the large root ball may have prevented him from resurfacing.