Dock collision injures trio

CUSICK — Three teens suffered minor injuries Monday after the tube they were being towed on crashed into a dock in the Pend Oreille River.

Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Sgt. Questin Youk said the operator of the boat pulling the tube, Robert Rockser, 69, turned the vessel too close to shore, causing the tube to swing into a dock. Tatum Holestine and Kayle Bower, both 18, were ejected, as was an unidentified 15-year-old male.

The 15-year-old was taken by ambulance to Newport Community Hospital, but only as a precaution.

“Luckily, it appears all three tubers only sustained minor injuries to include bruises and scratches,” Youk said in a news release.

Sheriff’s officials said the crash remains under investigation, although it does not appear alcohol was a factor.

The collision occurred shortly after 1 p.m. south of Blueslide.