Crash causes are released

SANDPOINT — Operator error and intoxication are cited as contributing factors in a deadly boat crash that claimed the life of a Sunnyside couple on Lake Pend Oreille last month, according to a Bonner County Sheriff Marine Patrol investigation.

John Darby Campbell, 30, and his 34-year-old wife, Amber Acacia Campbell, died of severe head and neck trauma when their wakeboarding boat crashed into the underside of the Long Bridge on July 3. Passenger, Gerred Michael Campbell, a 31-year-old who is not related to the couple, suffered back and neck injuries, but survived the crash.

A toxicology exam conducted on John Darby Campbell, who was at the helm of the 21-foot Malibu Wakesetter, detected the presence of drugs and alcohol.

The specific findings of the toxicology were not made part of the sheriff’s investigation and Coroner Kitt Rose declined to release the findings.

Larry Goins, the county’s civil counsel, contends Idaho’s Safe Boating Act prohibits the release of toxicological reports in fatal boating crashes if it identifies the deceased. Such information can only be used anonymously for statistical purposes.

The collision happened on July 3 at about 11:22 p.m. on the west side of the U.S. Highway 95 bridge.

The accident investigation found that John Darby Campbell and Gerred Campbell picked up Amber Campbell at City Beach at about 9 a.m. They rendezvoused with another vessel off Sandpoint to watch the fireworks display commemorating the Fourth of July.

The vessels parted ways following the fireworks and the Campbell boat departed southwest toward the Pend Oreille River. They passed beneath the BNSF Railway bridge but stopped after passing under the Long Bridge.

Gerred Campbell said in a statement to investigators that John Darby Campbell received a cell phone call from the vessel they had rafted with during the fireworks, which was having trouble getting started.

John Darby Campbell turned and headed back toward the disabled vessel, but did so at a high rate of speed, according to Gerred Campbell’s written statement to investigators.

“We estimated he was going between 30 to 40 miles per hour,” said sheriff’s Lt. Cary Kelly, supervisor of the marine patrol.

The boat collided with structural crossbeams positioned at a number of points beneath the highway bridge. There are a number of unobstructed passages under the bridge, including one marked with a red and green light to denote the river channel.

No-wake zones extend 200 feet from bridges, piers and other structures in Bonner County.

Along with intoxicants, other contributing factors in the crash included improper lookout, careless/reckless boating and operator inattention, according to the sheriff’s investigation.