ASTORIA, Ore. -- A man forced to jump off his fishing boat just before another boat hit it is suing the other driver.
And dramatic video has been released, showing that the fisherman and two other people aboard his boat had only seconds to act before the crash. They appear to have no choice but to jump into the water.
The crash happened last August near the mouth of the Columbia River.
The fishing boat's owner is suing for more than $350,000, claiming the driver of the other boat was on his phone and distracted at the time.
No one was killed in the crash. One survivor, Bryan Maess, is suing 75-year-old Marlin Lee Larsen.
Investigators say Larsen was sitting behind the wheel and said he couldn't see because the front of the boat was in the way.
The lawsuit details how Maess is dealing with the aftermath of the crash. The suit says he had injuries that included neck pain, vision issues, severe headaches and a hyperextended thumb. He's also had to deal with severe emotional fallout.
The lawsuit is asking for $372,500 in damages.
Larsen is facing seven charges in total. All of them are misdemeanors. He pleaded not guilty to charges including fourth-degree assault, recklessly endangering another person and reckless operation of a boat.
He has a hearing on Friday in Clatsop County Court to determine whether the case will go to trial or end in a plea deal.
KGW has reached out to both Larsen as well as the boaters who jumped, but has not heard back.
Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said while there are strict laws governing drivers in cars, there aren’t the same laws for boating. He said boaters only have to show “due care” when operating a boat.
Video of the crash was shared on Salmon Trout Steelheader’s Facebook page and has hundreds of thousands of views.