01/12/06
FISHING
BOAT CAPTAIN INDICTED IN DEATHS OF 3 PASSENGERS
PORTLAND, OREGON - United States Attorney Karin J. Immergut and United
States Coast Guard Captain of the Port Patrick G. Gerrity today announced
the indictment of RICHARD J. OBA on three counts of Seaman's Manslaughter,
in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1115.
Oba was the captain
of a 38 foot charter fishing boat named the Sydney Mae II. The charges
stem from the deaths of William Harris, age 57, of Springfield, Oregon;
Virginia Strelow, age 63, of Reedsport, Oregon; and Paul Turner, age
76, of Boise, Idaho. They died as a result of the sinking of the Sydney
Mae II on September 19, 2005.
The Sydney Mae
II was based in Winchester Bay, Oregon. Winchester Bay is located just
upstream from the mouth of the Umpqua River, just inland from where
the river meets the Pacific Ocean.
As the indictment
alleges, Oba was captain of the Sydney Mae II, and Harris, Strelow,
and Turner were passengers aboard the Syndey Mae II on September 19,
2005, along with another man, James Parker. Oba and his passengers set
out on the morning of September 19, 2005 for a fishing trip off the
Oregon coast.
While the Sydney
Mae II was at sea, the conditions at the entrance to the Umpqua River
deteriorated and became extremely hazardous. The entrance to the Umpqua
River is known as the Umpqua River Bar. By late in the afternoon, large
waves were crashing throughout the Umpqua River Bar. At approximately
4:30 p.m., the United States Coast Guard imposed restrictions on the
Umpqua River Bar, prohibiting vessels like Oba's Sydney Mae II from
crossing the bar.
In the hours after
the restrictions were put in place, Coast Guard personnel told Oba repeatedly
that the Umpqua River Bar was restricted and that he should not attempt
to return to Winchester Bay. Oba was also contacted by another charter
boat captain, who also told him the bar was hazardous and that he should
not attempt to cross the bar.
Despite these warnings,
Oba pressed ahead towards Winchester Bay and steered the Sydney Mae
II well within the Umpqua River Bar restricted area.
At approximately
8:21 p.m., Oba again spoke to Coast Guard personnel, who again told
him the bar was restricted. Shortly thereafter, as Oba approached the
mouth of the Umpqua River, the Sydney Mae II was struck by a large wave
and began to break into pieces. The passengers of the boat, including
Oba, were thrown into the Pacific Ocean which was approximately 50 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Coast Guard personnel launched a crew of rescuers to search for survivors.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m., the crew of one of the Coast Guard Motor Life
Boats recovered defendant Richard J. Oba and passenger James Parker
from the ocean.
Later that night,
the body of Virginia Strelow was found on the beach, approximately 2
miles south of the Umpqua River. The body of William Harris was found
the next day on the beach approximately six miles south of the Umpqua
River. The body of Paul Turner has not been recovered.
"The safety
of our charter fishing fleet depends on captains acting responsibly.
When captains operate their boats unsafely, and people are killed, they
must be held accountable," United States Attorney Immergut explained.
"Each day
Coast Guard personnel risk their lives to support and serve mariners,"
Captain Gerrity said. "We care deeply about vessel safety and work
very hard to ensure the safety of all mariners - both recreational and
commercial. The death of even a single person in the maritime realm
hurts us all. The loss of the Sydney Mae II was a tragedy and my sympathy
goes out to the families affected by this incident."
The investigation
into this matter has been conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative
Service.
The defendant,
Richard J. Oba, has been charged with three counts of Seaman's Manslaughter,
in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1115. Each count carries a maximum
penalty of 10 years in prison.
A criminal indictment
is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty.
For further information,
contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton, (503) 727-1128, or
Ensign Nicholas Barrows with the United States Coast Guard, Sector Portland,
(503) 240-2587.
