Monmouth kayaker dies in ferry accident | News

At around 5 p.m., officers from Polk, Benton and Linn counties, along with fire departments from Polk, Jefferson and Albany, responded to a water rescue call involving a kayak that had collided with the Buena Vista Ferry in southern Polk County.

Upon arrival, emergency responders learned that a kayak piloted by Jacob Anthony Jackson, 50, of Monmouth, had a malfunction with his boat’s steering mechanism. While attempting to fix the problem, he drifted into the path of the ferry as it crossed the canal. Jackson’s kayak struck the ferry and tipped over, causing him to fall into the water. Jackson became stuck under the ferry and was unable to resurface.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office dive team went to the scene and found that Jackson’s clothing had become caught in the ferry’s propeller after he fell out of his kayak, causing him to drown. The Linn County dive team was able to recover Jackson’s body.

During the investigation, PCSO determined that Jackson was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident; however, he did have one in the kayak at the time of the incident.

“This tragic incident is a good reminder to be safe on the water and to wear life jackets when operating motorized and non-motorized boats,” the PCSO wrote on its Facebook page.