Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEBER COUNTY -- An Ogden woman died after a boat hit her while she was swimming in Pineview Reservoir Sunday night.
Esther Fugimoto, 49, was swimming across Spring Creek Cove just after 8 p.m. when she was struck by a motorboat. A man living nearby heard her scream and was able to reach her in a row boat.
The man then made a phone call for help and was able to hang onto the woman until a patrol boat arrived. Officers in the patrol boat got the woman on board and started CPR before Fugimoto lost consciousness. She died before rescuers could be bring her to shore.
Investigators are trying to track down the boat and the person driving it. Officers said they are looking for a blue and white boat that had three people in it. Police aren't sure if the boater even realized he had hit someone.
Sgt. Dave Creager with the Weber County Sheriff's Office said: "It was a boat and not a jet ski. We have some pretty good information on the description of the boat and that's what we are still working on at this time, to identify the boat and locate it."
Police officers set up check points Sunday night, checking all boats as they came in and out of the ramps. The check point will continue through Monday.
Residents said they hope someone didn't just hit a person and then take off.
Fugimoto swims regularly at the reservoir and has talked to the deputies who patrol the area in the past, said Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Mark Lowther. She was about 200 to 300 feet off-shore near Spring Creek Cove when she was hit, he said.
Anyone who has information on the accident can call the sheriff's office at 801-629-8221. "Even if you think we already have the information or you don't think it's important, call anyway," Lowther said.
----
Written by Randall Jeppeson with contributions from Pat Reavy.
----
