Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
A 28-year-old Albany diver’s body was recovered from the South Santiam River near Wiley Creek Parkon Aug. 25.
The diver, Kevin Lee Clubb, was found submerged in approximately 12 feet of water downstream from Foster Dam about 50 yards west of the Wiley Creek boat launch.
“A patrol officer discovered a car in the day use area,” Sweet Home Detective Cyndi Pichardo said. The car was discovered at about 1:15 a.m., and the officer had a dispatcher call the registered owner’s phone number.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., one of Clubb’s family members called back, Pichardo said. The caller reported that Clubb had not been seen since Tuesday afternoon, and he had not shown up for work at the family business, Steve’s Meat Packing.
Police Chief Bob Burford said Club “was an adult that lived on his own.” He said Clubb’s absence did n’t raise any alarms until police called.
“According to his family, he often dived in that area to recover lures and lost anchors,” Pichardo said. On Aug. 23, he had told a citizen that he had found an anchor and was going to dive and recover it.
Officers spoke with a fisherman, who verified that a man matching Clubb’s description had been seen diving in the area on Aug. 23.
The initial investigation revealed that Clubb was most likely trying to recover the lost anchor, Burford said. He became entangled in the rope and was then held against the current, unable to escape.
The investigation is continuing, Burford said. Police will examine his equipment to determine if it had any malfunctions, but the death is clearly accidental with nothing suspicious.
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and Linn County Sheriff’s Office provided boats to search for the body. The National Guard assisted in the search by helicopter. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduced flows from Foster Dam during the search.