Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) River Patrol Unit (RPU) deputies continue to investigate the death of 24-year-old Kaileigh Seidel.

On Saturday, June 22, at 7:53 p.m., Portland firefighters and American Medical Response paramedics responded to a report that a person riding an inflatable tube towed by a boat collided with another boat on the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge. The person, later identified as Seidel, was transported by one of the involved boats to the southern dock at Riverplace Marina, where they met first responders. Paramedics rushed Seidel to the hospital.

MCSO RPU deputies were dispatched at 8:05 p.m. to the dock to take a report of the incident. 

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Seidel was pronounced deceased. Subsequently, MCSO RPU deputies opened a death investigation.

When deputies complete the death investigation, the case will be sent to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. A deputy district attorney will then review the investigation and determine whether to file any criminal charges. 

Anyone who witnessed the event and has not spoken to deputies and/or may have captured video of the incident is asked to contact the MCSO River Patrol Unit office by calling 503-988-8810.

Additionally, MCSO initially reported Seidel fell from a boat prior to being struck by another boat. That description is inaccurate. MCSO regrets the error.

The investigation is ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.