Search continues for missing kayaker

PONDERAY - The search continued Friday for a Sandpoint man who apparently drowned while kayaking in Lake Pend Oreille on Wednesday night.

“We haven't found anything. We're still out there searching,” said Bonner County Sheriff's Lt. Cary Kelly.

Rene “Ren” Behrens-Spraggins, 19, was last seen holding onto to a capsized kayak off Black Rock, a stretch of shoreline between Sandpoint and Ponder Point. The mishap occurred about 500 feet from shore at about 6:30 p.m.

Behrens-Spraggins was not wearing a lifejacket and the water temperature that evening was measured at 48.3 degrees. Alcohol was a factor in the incident, according to sheriff's officials.

Authorities fear he perished in the tragic mishap.

Searchers in boats resumed their search along the shore of lake between Kootenai and Sandpoint, in addition to the Pend Oreille River, Kelly said.

“We're just checking all areas and we'll be doing it all weekend,” he said.

Behrens-Spraggins and Dustin Hendricks, 20, reportedly shoved off from shore in wooden, 14-foot kayaks and paddled for about 45 minutes. Behrens-Spraggins ended up tipping over his kayak and was unable to get back in the boat. Authorities said Hendricks attempted to help his friend, but ended up capsizing.

Hendricks reportedly began swimming toward land, but ended up losing sight of Behrens-Spraggins. Hendricks was nearing shore when he was rescued by a Bonner General Hospital doctor who happened to be boating in the area, sheriff's officials said. They went back to look for Behrens-Spraggins, but he could not be located.

Sheriff's divers, marine patrol deputies and North Idaho Search & Rescue personnel have searched for the missing kayaker. Officials expressed doubt that side-looking sonar would be effective in looking for Behrens-Spraggins because of scores of sunken logs in part of the search area.

However, Kelly said a boat equipped with side-scan sonar from Kootenai County could be pressed into service early next week if the man isn't found before then.

n Those with information about this incident are asked to call Bonner County Sheriff's Det. Howard Burke at 263-8417.