LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it is continuing its investigation into the circumstances that led to a boat capsizing on Clear Lake early Saturday morning, claiming the life of a Fresno woman as well as that of her fiance, who was trying to rescue her.
Webster Medley III, 51, and Novia Walton, 50, who family reported had recently become engaged to be married, were among five people on a boat that capsized offshore of Clearlake Oaks shortly before 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Walton was pulled from the water and transported to an out-of-county hospital, where she died of her injuries on Saturday evening, said Lt. Rich Ward of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Medley, who went missing shortly after the incident, was the subject of an ongoing search that ended on Sunday morning, when his body was located in the lake, Ward said.
Ward said Medley’s body was found shortly after 10:15 a.m. Sunday about 50 feet from the Clearlake Oaks Park, just past the Island Drive boat launch, where the search for him had begun after the boat overturned.
Dispatch traffic at approximately 12:23 a.m. Saturday said that a caller had reported a boat had capsized about 500 yards offshore of Island Drive and that they could hear the people in the water.
Less than five minutes later, a medic unit from the Northshore Fire Protection District’s Clearlake Oaks station reported arriving on scene, estimating five people were in the water about 75 yards out and asking for additional assistance.
Based on the information authorities have gathered so far, Medley was driving a 19-foot 1985 Bayliner registered to him with Walton and family members on board for a fishing trip.
Ward said the reports indicate that Medley was backing up from the shoreline, with he and his passengers on the left side of the boat, when it capsized.
A witness statement to deputies reported that Medley had called out while in the water, saying he needed to help Walton, Ward said.
Scanner reports also had stated that when Medley was last seen, he was trying to pull someone from the water.
Three of the boat’s passengers were reported to have gotten to shore within a few minutes, but authorities were still searching for the couple, according to radio traffic.
Ward said Walton was found face down in the water.
Scanner traffic said firefighters were doing CPR on the fourth individual — Walton — who later was flown out.
Medley, however, wasn’t found, and deputies, firefighters and a REACH helicopter crew searched for him for hours without success.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol searched for Medley throughout the day on Saturday, as Lake County News has reported.
The search continued on Sunday, when Medley’s body was found midmorning by a California Department of Fish and Game officer who was first on scene, Ward said.
Ward said the next of kin of both Medley and Walton were contacted and notified of their deaths.
He said a family member told deputies that the Fresno couple had recently become engaged to be married.
As for what led to the boat overturning, Ward said the investigation is ongoing by the sheriff's Marine Patrol and the cause is yet to be determined.
The boat — which was removed from the scene several hours after the incident — is due to undergo a secondary examination by Marine Patrol deputies, Ward said.
Ward said there is no indication that speed, low water or unfamiliarity with the area were factors.
He said post-mortem examinations of both Medley and Walton also are planned.
Family member describes incident
In an email to Lake County News Monday afternoon, Medley’s family described what occurred.
Medley’s younger brother, Trey Maxwell, offered an account given to him by two cousins who were on the boat.
Maxwell said Medley and his four passengers launched the boat on Friday evening.
They coasted straight out of the boat launch and after traveling about 150 feet, Medley turned left to approach their destination, which Maxwell said was 100 yards away.
“As they got closer the passengers noticed water accumulating in the rear. Just as they were stopping to fish, Webster was notified of the now excessive water and started the bilge pump which immediately began pumping out water. His cousin yelled to him to get them back to the launch,” Maxwell said.
“Webster tried to counter the water by sending a second cousin to the front for balance. At the same time, Webster shifted the boat into gear to U-turn the boat but it wouldn't move. He then switched to reverse and the boat suddenly and immediately sank, end first,” Maxwell said.
“The second cousin (wearing his vest) was tossed into the water at the front of the boat, the others had no time to grab theirs and entered the water abruptly. Once the boat was under water and capsized, the visibility was at zero for the passengers,” Maxwell said.
“Webster called for his cousin screaming ‘Greg, Novia can't swim!’ Webster then screamed out again ‘Greg ... Novia ... I think she's drowning!’,” Maxwell continued.
Maxwell added, “This is when it appears Webster went under the water to search for Novia and neither survived.”
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Investigation continuing into boat accident that claimed lives of Fresno couple
- Elizabeth Larson
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