Kayaker died after slipping into cold water near Burbank while fishing
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- Deputies recovered a Pasco kayaker near Burbank; autopsy ruled accidental drowning.
- Montes launched without a life jacket, entered 55°F water and called 911.
- Coast Guard data show 86% of boating drowning victims lacked life jackets; wear one.
A young Pasco man drove to a popular spot near Burbank with plans to go fishing and before the day ended he had disappeared.
The Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office has wrapped up the investigation into the death of Jostin L. Garcia Montes, 20, after coroner officials ruled he died in an accidental drowning.
“Our hearts continue to go out to (his family) as they continue to process and grieve this tragedy,” said a sheriff’s release on Tuesday.
Garcia Montes was a forklift driver for Simplot. He was born in El Salvador and had lived in Pasco for 12 years, according to a death notice from Einan’s at Hillcrest, Pasco.
Investigators believe Garcia Montes wasn’t wearing a life jacket when he got into the kayak sometime before noon on Oct. 14, Chief Deputy Richland Schram told the Tri-City Herald.
While investigators can’t be certain, they believe his kayak became swamped and started to sink.
Garcia Montes made a frantic 911 call after he slipped into the 55-degree water, which can cause hypothermia quickly.
Emergency dispatchers traced the call to the popular hunting and fishing area near the Burbank Slough at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge near the junction of the Snake and Columbia rivers, the sheriff’s office said.
Walla Walla deputies were joined in the search by Washington State Fish and Wildlife, Walla Walla Fire District 5, and the Washington State Patrol, along with police from College Place and Pasco.
They found a kayak, personal items on the water and a personal vehicle parked nearby, but they weren’t able to find Garcia Montes until they returned the next day and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue and Walla Walla’s marine unit found his body.
Schram said the case highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket when you’re on the water to increase the chances of being rescued.
A 2019 Coast Guard study found 86% of the people who died from drowning in boating accidents weren’t wearing life jackets.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM.