Fishing boat capsizes at Yaquina Bay Bar; 3 killed
NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) – A commercial fishing boat capsized in rough waters off the Oregon coast late Tuesday night, killing all three men aboard.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the vessel, the Mary B II, overturned about 10 p.m. Tuesday as it crossed Yaquina Bay Bar near Newport.
Authorities said crews faced 12- to 14-foot waves during the initial response as they tried to rescue the fishermen.
Oregon State Police said the Coast Guard had been notified of a boat needing assistance crossing the bar due to high seas.
A Coat Guard helicopter crew found James Lacey, 48, of South Toms River, N.J., in the water and took him to Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, where he was pronounced dead, OSP Lt. Cari Boyd said.
Around 12:30 a.m., the Newport Fire Department found Joshua Porter, 50, of Toledo, Oregon, on the beach near Nye Beach and he was pronounced dead.
The Mary B II ultimately ran aground on the beach near the north side of the Yaquina Bay North Jetty, Boyd said. The boat’s skipper, Stephen Biernacki, 50, of Barnegat Township, N.J., was found with the boat and pronounced dead at the scene.
