Published: Saturday, August 21, 2010
Rower's body recovered from Lake Stevens after boat crash
Investigation of Lake Stevens boat crash continues
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Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Search and rescue divers resume their search of Lake Stevens on Friday morning from police and sheriff's department boats for 42-year-old rower Dave Balbirona, who went missing Thursday night after his craft was struck by a powerboat. His body was found Friday afternoon.
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LAKE STEVENS -- Dave Balbirona, whose body was recovered late Friday afternoon in Lake Stevens after a boating accident the night before, was a devoted rower and family man, friends said.
Divers searched most of the day for the 42-year-old Lake Stevens man whose racing shell was hit by a ski boat Thursday night.
Members of the Lake Stevens Rowing Club released a statement Friday afternoon, saying: "US Rowing and Lake Stevens Rowing Club offer our deepest sympathies and thoughts for the family and friends of Dave Balbirona, our rower lost to us in the unfortunate incident last evening.
"As the search and recovery efforts continue, his wife Leanne, their three daughters and son, hope and pray for a swift conclusion."
Less than an hour later, divers found Balbirona's body.
Club members described Balbirona as "a devoted husband and adoring father" as well as an accomplished athlete who loved the outdoors, cycling and rowing.
Lake Stevens police are continuing to investigate the collision, which occurred around 7:40 p.m. Thursday near the lake's north cove, a few hundred yards from E. Lakeshore Drive.
The accident occurred just outside the no-wake zone that stretches 875 yards out from shore, said Lake Stevens Police Officer Jim Barnes, who patrols the lake four days a week.
Lake Stevens Police Chief Randy Celori doesn't expect the accident investigation will be completed for at least another week.
Technical water rescue teams from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and the Seattle police harbor patrol on Friday joined crews from Lake Stevens in the recovery of Balbirona's body.
Diving teams guided by hand-held and boat sonar equipment took turns probing beneath the water's surface. In all, 15 divers looked for Balbirona in water with visibility of less than 8 feet and a temperature of about 60 degrees.
Eyewitnesses to the accident were brought back to the shore Friday to help establish the search area, said sheriff's Lt. Rodney Rochon, who leads the department's marine operations. That area was about 100 by 300 yards with depths up to 45 feet.
"It was like a grid search," Rochon said.
The accident occurred during an evening practice involving master rowers from the Lake Stevens Rowing Club, said Tony Scoringe, a club spokesman.
"It is just devastating to us," he said.
"It seems to be an unfortunate accident. I would liken it to the relationship between motor vehicles and bicycles," Scoringe said. "It is a tragedy on all levels."
On Thursday night, several racing shells were on the water along with two safety launch boats that were near the rowing teams. The ski boat, piloted by a 17-year-old Lake Stevens boy, was preparing to tow a wakeboarder, officials said.
After the collision, coaches on one of the crew launches were able to immediately pull from the water a Snohomish woman, 50, Scoringe said. They were unable to find Balbirona.
The boy driving the ski boat offered immediate assistance, contrary to early reports from officials Thursday evening that the ski boat had briefly left the scene.
Clint Houghton, 17, an incoming senior at Lake Stevens High School, said he's sure his friend who was driving the ski boat is "absolutely devastated."
"He's a really caring guy," he said.
Boaters on the lake said the water can become particularly dangerous at sunset, when glare hinders visibility.
"There is so much reflection off the water," said Shane McDaniel, a lifelong Lake Stevens resident. "You always have to be cautious."
David Weaver, a father of two teens, also goes boating on the lake.
He said the sun, the height of the boat's bow and the low profile of a rowing shell all could have contributed to the accident.
"It's usually not just one thing," Weaver said. "It's usually several things. It's just like a car. You can't just look away."
The accident is the worst on the lake since July 2009. That's when a ski boat carrying 10 people flipped after being hit by a wave, tossing everyone into the water. The boat's pilot drowned. Others in the boat made it to shore.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
Divers searched most of the day for the 42-year-old Lake Stevens man whose racing shell was hit by a ski boat Thursday night.
Members of the Lake Stevens Rowing Club released a statement Friday afternoon, saying: "US Rowing and Lake Stevens Rowing Club offer our deepest sympathies and thoughts for the family and friends of Dave Balbirona, our rower lost to us in the unfortunate incident last evening.
"As the search and recovery efforts continue, his wife Leanne, their three daughters and son, hope and pray for a swift conclusion."
Less than an hour later, divers found Balbirona's body.
Club members described Balbirona as "a devoted husband and adoring father" as well as an accomplished athlete who loved the outdoors, cycling and rowing.
Lake Stevens police are continuing to investigate the collision, which occurred around 7:40 p.m. Thursday near the lake's north cove, a few hundred yards from E. Lakeshore Drive.
The accident occurred just outside the no-wake zone that stretches 875 yards out from shore, said Lake Stevens Police Officer Jim Barnes, who patrols the lake four days a week.
Lake Stevens Police Chief Randy Celori doesn't expect the accident investigation will be completed for at least another week.
Technical water rescue teams from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and the Seattle police harbor patrol on Friday joined crews from Lake Stevens in the recovery of Balbirona's body.
Diving teams guided by hand-held and boat sonar equipment took turns probing beneath the water's surface. In all, 15 divers looked for Balbirona in water with visibility of less than 8 feet and a temperature of about 60 degrees.
Eyewitnesses to the accident were brought back to the shore Friday to help establish the search area, said sheriff's Lt. Rodney Rochon, who leads the department's marine operations. That area was about 100 by 300 yards with depths up to 45 feet.
"It was like a grid search," Rochon said.
The accident occurred during an evening practice involving master rowers from the Lake Stevens Rowing Club, said Tony Scoringe, a club spokesman.
"It is just devastating to us," he said.
"It seems to be an unfortunate accident. I would liken it to the relationship between motor vehicles and bicycles," Scoringe said. "It is a tragedy on all levels."
On Thursday night, several racing shells were on the water along with two safety launch boats that were near the rowing teams. The ski boat, piloted by a 17-year-old Lake Stevens boy, was preparing to tow a wakeboarder, officials said.
After the collision, coaches on one of the crew launches were able to immediately pull from the water a Snohomish woman, 50, Scoringe said. They were unable to find Balbirona.
The boy driving the ski boat offered immediate assistance, contrary to early reports from officials Thursday evening that the ski boat had briefly left the scene.
Clint Houghton, 17, an incoming senior at Lake Stevens High School, said he's sure his friend who was driving the ski boat is "absolutely devastated."
"He's a really caring guy," he said.
Boaters on the lake said the water can become particularly dangerous at sunset, when glare hinders visibility.
"There is so much reflection off the water," said Shane McDaniel, a lifelong Lake Stevens resident. "You always have to be cautious."
David Weaver, a father of two teens, also goes boating on the lake.
He said the sun, the height of the boat's bow and the low profile of a rowing shell all could have contributed to the accident.
"It's usually not just one thing," Weaver said. "It's usually several things. It's just like a car. You can't just look away."
The accident is the worst on the lake since July 2009. That's when a ski boat carrying 10 people flipped after being hit by a wave, tossing everyone into the water. The boat's pilot drowned. Others in the boat made it to shore.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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