67-year-old man drowns in Payette River near Ontario
By Logan Bagget on Friday, June 26th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News
PAYETTE COUNTY — A man has drowned after reportedly falling out of a boat in the Payette River in Idaho, about a mile northeast of Ontario, Oregon.
Read the full press release from the Payette County Sheriff’s Office below:
(Press Release from the Payette County Sheriff’s Office)
The Payette County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a drowning that claimed the life of an adult male on the Payette River near Rudy Park. The incident occurred at approximately 9:27 p.m. on June 24, when 911 dispatchers received a report of a male who was not breathing while floating on the river.
Search and Rescue personnel from the Payette Fire Department and New Plymouth Fire Department were immediately dispatched to the scene, along with the Payette County Marine Deputy, Payette County Paramedics, and patrol units from the Fruitland Police Department and the Payette Police Department.
The 67-year-old male was still in the water when first responders arrived and immediately began CPR. Life Flight was dispatched to the scene; however, despite lifesaving efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased before he could be transported. The Payette County Coroner was paged to the scene at 10:14 p.m.