On Saturday, May 7th, 2022 rescuers from Eugene/Springfield Fire and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a capsized canoe in the Willamette River. Just prior to 3:30pm a citizen called to report that a canoe being operated by a male had capsized near the Owosso Footbridge. The male had been seen struggling in the water before slipping beneath the surface. Searchers saturated the area but were unable to find him.
Investigators from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office believe the involved male to be 36 year old Justin Leroy Grossman of the Eugene area. Grossman had reportedly been camping on an island in the river and was using the canoe to commute to and from it when the boat capsized.
Searchers have continued to search the area. Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.