Investigators release details in woman's death on the Willamette River

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a woman who was reportedly struck by a boat while recreating on the Willamette River this past weekend.

The woman who died in the incident was identified by officials as 24-year-old Kaileigh Seidel. In addition, the sheriff's office said they originally gave an "inaccurate" description of the events. Officials now say the woman was struck by a boat while riding an inflatable tube that was being towed by another boat. They originally said she fell off of a boat and got struck by another boat but have since said this is incorrect.

First responders, including Portland Fire and Rescue and American Medical Response, rushed to the scene just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, on reports of "a person riding an inflatable tube towed by a boat [that] collided with another boat on the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge," officials said.

As MCSO explained in a release, "The person, later identified as Seidel, was transported by one of the involved boats to the southern dock at Riverplace Marina, where they met first responders. Paramedics rushed Seidel to the hospital."

MSCO and the River Patrol Unit also responded around 8:05 p.m., arriving at the dock "to take a report of the incident."

Seidel was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. After that, the sheriff's office opened a death investigation.

MCSO said the case will be referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, who will make the ultimate determination of whether any criminal charges are filed.

The investigation is ongoing, officials said.