Albany Man Drowns in Willamette River Sunday Night

The victim had gone into the Willamette River at the Crystal Lake Boat Ramp on an inflatable inner tube.

The body of an Albany, Oregon man was recovered Sunday night near the Crystal Lake Boat Ramp in Corvallis. Photo Courtesy: Linn County Parks

(CORVALLIS, Ore. ) - On Sunday, at about 5:53 p.m., Benton County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a person who had gone underwater in the Willamette River and had did not return to the surface.

The Corvallis Fire Department boat also responded. At about 7:24 p.m., the body of 24-year-old Lee Roy Allen Dow, from Albany, Oregon, was recovered by divers from the Linn County Sheriff's Office and the Albany Fire Department. He had gone into the Willamette River at the Crystal Lake Boat Ramp on an inflatable inner tube. He was not wearing a personal floatation device.

Witnesses said he slipped off the inner tube for an unknown reason, went into the river, and a short time later, went underwater and did not come back to the surface. He was located near the place where he was last seen going underwater.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office would like to remind the public that the rivers are a dangerous place to recreate. The public should always safely plan their trips, including wear personal floatation devices, sound producing devices, letting a third party know the duration and location of their trip, bringing a charged cell phone in a waterproof bag, etc.

Source: Benton County Sheriff's Office