Coroner: Boater drowned after going overboard into Columbia River; toxicology results pending

A Richland man died from an accidental drowning after he fell from a boat Sunday night into the Columbia River.

An autopsy was done Friday on Brandon Martin, one day after family members saw his body float to the surface and immediately notified a local diver for recovery.

Candice Hermanson, Franklin County’s chief deputy coroner, would not say if there was any trauma to the body from the boating accident, adding that they want to “give the family their privacy.”

Toxicology results won’t be available for about two months.

Martin was on one of two boats returning to the shoreline at 8 p.m. Sunday after a day on the water.

The boats came too close together and one swerved, sending Martin overboard along with a 10-year-old boy and another adult. Friends reported that the boat Martin was on hit some debris.

The trio weren’t wearing life jackets when they landed in the water west of the blue bridge.

Investigators have said alcohol may have been a factor in the near-crash.

This story was originally published August 11, 2017 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Coroner: Boater drowned after going overboard into Columbia River; toxicology results pending."