Two Kamiah men rescued from drift boat

Law enforcement and rescue personnel from several area agencies responded to a drift boat accident in the Clearwater River Wednesday morning near mile marker 60 on U.S. Highway 12.

The 12-foot drift boat owned by Lloyd W. Asbe, 71, Kamiah, got pinned against a rock at the side of a rapid, according to Clearwater County Sheriff's Department. The boat started taking on water and the two men in the boat, Asbe and Donald Jay, 75, Kamiah were standing in the bow which was tipped upward. There was concern that if they moved too far the boat would become dislodged. Kamiah Ambulance assisted the men after they were rescued from the river.

According to Lewis County Sheriff's Department, Search and Rescue, Marine Patrols, Dive Teams and law enforcement personnel from Lewis, Clearwater, Idaho and Nez Perce counties, as well as Nez Perce Tribal Police responded. Idaho Transportation Department managed traffic and Kip Fry of the Guide Shop assisted with a drift boat used in the rescue.

Rescuers in an inflatable boat from Clearwater County Sheriff's Department move into position to help two men trapped in a drift boat hung up on rocks in the Clearwater River.

Rescue personnel wait on shore to assist as needed. Notice the ice and snow still along the edge of the river.

The men were transferred from their drift boat to the inflatable boat.

After the transfer was complete, the men were taken to shore. (Photos courtesy of Detective Becky Drewery, Clearwater County Sheriff's Department)