Springfield, OR – A Eugene man drowned Sunday afternoon after falling off an innertube in the Willamette River near Springfield, according to authorities.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded around 2 p.m. Sunday to Clearwater Landing after receiving a report of a man who had fallen into the river and did not resurface.
Rescue crews located the man underwater and brought him to the surface. Despite efforts to perform life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said he had been wearing a lifejacket, but it became entangled in submerged branches, preventing him from resurfacing.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Luke John Poulin, 67, of Eugene.
Officials are reminding the public to exercise caution on local rivers during the holiday weekend, noting that even strong swimmers can be at risk in areas with strong currents or underwater hazards.
No further details have been released.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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