A woman was killed and went missing Sunday when she was accidentally struck by the propeller of a boat driven by her husband on Foster Lake. Her body was found Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 38-year-old Merritt Smith of the Dalles was being towed on an inflatable tube behind a 19-foot ski boat when she fell off in the South Santiam arm of the reservoir, Sheriff Dave Burright said. Her husband, 42-year-old Keith Smith, was driving. As he circled the boat to pick her up, she was accidentally struck by the propeller.
He immediately went into the water to try to save her, but he was not able to reach her. She sank in approximately 60 feet of water.
Mrs. Smith was wearing a life preserver, but it was destroyed by the impact and did not keep her afloat.
One adult and two juveniles also were in the boat and witnessed the accident.
Divers from Linn County Sheriff’s Office and Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and responded to the reservoir. They searched until dark before resuming again Monday.
Albany Fire Department responded Monday morning with an underwater camera emergency workers could drag from a boat.