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Rescue crews locate body of 24-year-old whose canoe capsized in Donner Lake

Amy Edget and Kevin Macmillan
Sierra Sun

TRUCKEE, Calif. – Regional rescue crews on Wednesday located the body of a 24-year-old Truckee man whose canoe capsized Monday evening in Donner Lake, officials have confirmed.

According to a Truckee Police Department press release, search crews located the body of Eric William Kiser in about 15 feet of water, about 150 yards from the shore, at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

“Divers recovered the body and he was transferred to the Nevada County Sheriff/Coroner,” the press release reads. “The cause of death is not known pending an autopsy.”



Kiser’s name had been withheld Monday and Tuesday, pending next-of-kin notification.

According to previous reports, Truckee Police received a 911 call at 6:26 p.m. Monday from a 19-year-old Truckee female, who said the canoe she and Kiser were in had capsized. The woman, who was not injured, reportedly was able to swim to Donner Lake’s shore, but had lost sight of Kiser.



By 7:30 p.m. Monday, a Truckee PD rescue boat was in the water, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter aided in the night search with a forward looking infrared device.

Agencies called off the search at 9:30 p.m., with surface temperatures at Donner Lake at 39 degrees, said Truckee PD Capt. Randy Fenn. The canoe and several items of clothing believed to be those of the woman drifted to shore near the Donner Lake Marina.

Truckee Police and the Truckee Fire Protection District personnel picked up the search at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, suspending it at about 4:30 p.m., before resuming Wednesday morning.

Officials from the Nevada and Placer County Sheriff’s offices, Nevada County Search and Rescue, CHP and State Parks assisted with the search, according to the press release. Searchers used boats, side-scan sonar and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to look for the victim.


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