Around 5:40 p.m. Saturday a 19 foot fishing boat crashed into a stone retaining wall on the east bank of the Willamette River with two fathers and their 11-year-old daughters onboard.

kgw.com

The impact crushed the boat’s bow. The boat’s operator, who was identified as Ron Pool of Hillsboro, suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg. He was transported to Emanuel Hospital. His daughter was also taken to the hospital for observation.

The other man, identified as Michael Askew and his daughter, suffered only minor scrapes. They were treated at the scene.

Officers said that the crash happened when Ron Pool, who was operating the boat became distracted by a bottle of gatorade that had tipped over. Pool bent down to pick up the bottle and crashed into the shoreline of the east side esplanade.

The two men were not wearing life jackets, but both girls were. There was no evidence of alcohol use and police said no one would be cited.