Surviving boaters are identified

COEUR d’ALENE — The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the five boaters aboard the Mastercraft involved in last Saturday night’s deadly two-boat collision on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The five, who suffered inuries that were not life-threatening, have been identified as Dennis D. Magner, 50, Spokane; Jonathan C. Sweat, 40, Spokane; Alejanero M. Gutierriz, 33, Arlington, Wash.; Skye S. Neversorry, 24, Spokane; and Paige L. Archer, 25 of Hayden.

The name of the boat’s operator was not released because of the ongoing investigation, but KCSO said the reported driver showed no signs of drugs or alcohol at the scene.

Investigators are now seeking the public’s assistance as the sheriff’s office’s focus moves from recovering the bodies of three boaters to determining the cause of the crash.

Autopsies of the deceased boaters — Justin Honken, 21, Post Falls; Justin Luhr, 34, Medical Lake; and Caitlin Breeze, 21, Spokane — were completed Thursday by the Spokane Medical Examiner’s Office. The results and toxicology will not be available for several weeks.

Those who died occupied a 1989 Formula 223 LS, one of two boats involved in the collision that occurred south of Stevens Point around 9:15 p.m. It is believed the Formula was stopped or northbound.

According to scanner traffic Saturday night, those aboard the 2011 Mastercraft X-25 said they struck a stationary boat with its lights off.

“Witnesses on the Mastercraft are claiming the boat was completely blacked out and not moving,” a dispatcher said.

A homeowner on the the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene also called 911 to report the crash, per the sheriff’s office.

“The only information that we have at this time is a boat crashed south of Kidd Island,” the dispatcher said. “And there’s several people in the water unaccounted for. Unknown injuries.”

The lake’s speed limit is 20 mph. Boats must also be visible.

Anyone with information regarding the crash, the events leading up to it, or any video from security cameras between Carlin Bay and the crash site are asked to contact Detective Jackson at (208) 446-2256. Individuals can also leave tips online at http://www.kcsheriff.com/anonymous-tip.html or they can send a private message through the sheriff’s Facebook page.