A planned sturgeon trip on the Columbia River ended in tragedy on the morning of May 19, 2007. Donald K. Slater, 40, of Warrenton, Oregon, was on a 16-foot sports boat with his 19-year-old son Brian and a 23-year-old friend, Eric Peterson, near the Astoria Bridge when the anchor line reportedly became tangled on a bow cleat. The strong ebb tide pulled the bow down, the boat rolled over in the current and all three men were ejected into 58-degree water.

A shore witness called for help and Coast Guard and Clatsop County marine units responded. Rescuers pulled Brian and Peterson from dangerously fast-moving water and they were treated at a local hospital and released. Donald Slater disappeared despite being seen in the water within 15 minutes of the rescue. An extensive Coast Guard search of about 40 square nautical miles was conducted from the bridge to the river mouth but was suspended later that afternoon. Slater was not wearing a life jacket, was never recovered and is presumed to have drowned.

Does anyone have information about Donald Slater, or remember details from that day that could shed light on what happened?