Oregon man identified after he was pulled from Columbia River in Kennewick

An Oregon man is believed to have gone into the Columbia River at a Kennewick park.

The man found floating near the Lampson hydroplane pits Friday morning has been identified as Oscar Castaneda, 29, of Pendleton, Ore.

He has family in Pasco, said Benton County Chief Deputy Coroner Dennis Morris.

It’s believed he drowned sometime overnight in the river and floated a short distance downriver to where he was discovered near the bank.

Investigators still are trying to determine why he was in the park and how exactly he went into the water. Castaneda was fully clothed, so it didn’t appear that he was swimming.

Foul play is not suspected at this time, Morris said. No autopsy is planned.

Kennewick police were called to the east end of the park about 8:15 a.m.

A woman reported seeing what appeared to be a body or mannequin in the river, said Benton County sheriff’s Cpl. Dan Korten.

Columbia Basin Dive Rescue divers were called in to help bring him to shore.

The river still is 50 degrees, and people can quickly become be overcome by the cold, explained Scott Ruppelius, dive rescue’s public information officer.

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death since the body was found in the river rather than in the park.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office through the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333.

This story was originally published May 14, 2021 at 9:35 AM.