3 Still Missing in Boating Accident on Castaic Lake

Three men believed to have drowned in Castaic Lake were still missing Tuesday after a daylong search by volunteer divers.

The recovery operation will continue today for the missing passengers of a luxury powerboat that capsized Friday.

The body of the fourth man aboard, Ken Lane, 41, of La Crescenta, was found shortly after the accident Friday.

Still missing are Steve Coulombe, 38, of Agua Dulce; Nelson Ray Brinkman, 30, of Phelan, and Chuck Wiseman, 47, of Castaic.

Four volunteers, all experienced deep-water divers, explored the wreckage in two-person teams. Four other divers aided the deep-water teams with their decompression, which is especially challenging because the lake is at an oxygen-reducing 1,515 feet above sea level and the boat is resting on the lake floor 247 feet beneath the surface.

Because the boat is in such deep water, divers were only able to explore the wreckage for 20 minutes at a time.

An official of a Canadian sonar manufacturer is expected to arrive Thursday to assist the recovery effort.

On the first dive, the team searched the boat and a 25-foot circle around it, with the second team expanding that radius to 50 feet.

A remote-controlled vehicle with a video camera is expected to explore the lake floor around the wreckage today to narrow the search area, officials said.

Although the lake’s speed limit is 35 mph, witnesses told deputies they estimated that the boat was traveling up to 85 mph, Harrell said. Victims could have been ejected and since moved with the current, Sheriff’s Deputy David Cervantes said.

“That means the bodies could be anywhere in the lake, and we need to get additional resources to deal with that,” he said.

Los Angeles County officials said they will continue the recovery efforts until the missing are found.