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NEWPORT — A man from Newport and another man from Deer Park drowned in two Pend Oreille County lakes over the weekend.
Webster Kneass III, 64, of Deer Park drowned in Horseshoe Lake Saturday, July 12.
Kneass was in a boat when he fell overboard near the waterfall area of Horseshoe Lake, according to a Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office news release. His drowning was reported around 3:44 p.m., four minutes after he had gone underwater. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Divers from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division recovered Kneass’ body in about 17 feet of water in the same area he was last seen. Kneass was released to the Spokane Medical Examiner’s Office to officially determine the cause of death.
Other responders were South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue, Fire District 4, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies, Marine Patrol and Life Flight.
Just two days later, David W. Harvey, 61, of Newport drowned in Davis Lake Monday, July 14.
Harvey was fishing near a rocky water edge on the south end of Davis Lake when he slipped into the water, Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee said. He was also not wearing a life jacket.
Harvey’s female friend reported it at about 1:45 a.m. According to another Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office news release, she had attempted to help Harvey out of the water but was unsuccessful, so she went to a car to call 911. When she returned, Harvey was missing.
Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to her call and attempted to locate Harvey but were unsuccessful. Fire District 4 and Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office Marine units attempted again with rescue boats that had sonar equipment for locating bodies, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office’s dive team recovered Harvey’s body in 13 feet of water off a rock cliff. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office is also investigating Harvey to determine his cause of death.
Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee referred to the drownings as cautionary tales, urging safety during water activities such as boating or fishing. In its July 14 news release, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office highly recommended wearing life jackets.
