From staff reports
LAKEPORT ? A woman injured in a boating accident on Clear Lake last Saturday night has died.
The Lake County Sheriff?s Office reported Wednesday afternoon that Willows resident Lynn Thornton ? injured in a boating collision that took place in Konocti Bay after 9 p.m. April 29 ? died of her injuries at U.C. Davis Medical Center.
Sheriff Rod Mitchell said shortly after midnight on May 3, the Sacramento County Coroner?s Office contacted his office for information pertaining to the location of the boat collision that involved Thornton.
At 8 a.m. Wednesday, as soon as their administrative offices opened for business, Mitchell phoned the Sacramento County Coroner?s Office and confirmed that Thornton had died and that a coroner?s investigation was under way.
Mitchell said the investigation into the tragedy continues, including nighttime operations on Clear Lake conducted by Sacramento County Sheriff?s Deputies (on both Monday and Tuesday nights)who were assisted by LCSO?s Marine Services staff.
Making the situation particularly sensitive is the fact that one of LCSO?s chief deputies, Russell Perdock, was driving the other boat ? a 24-foot motorboat ? involved in the collision.
As a result, Mitchell invited a District Attorney?s Office investigator to participate in the inquiry, and the responsibility for the investigation ? as well as all evidence ? was handed over to the Sacramento County Sheriff?s Office Marine on Tuesday.
Perdock, who was taken to Redbud Community Hospital Saturday night for treatment of a lacerated forehead he suffered in the accident, voluntarily gave a blood sample to determine alcohol content in his blood ? which is standard procedure in accident investigations ? before he was released from care.
On Wednesday, Mitchell?s office said the blood alcohol content results are among many issues still pending in the case.
?I have been in touch with the Department of Justice Crime Laboratory in Santa Rosa and received preliminary information that at least one blood alcohol content result may be available to me as early as Thursday,? Mitchell said. ?A public announcement regarding these findings will be made available via lakesheriff.com as soon as practical.?
Two witnesses, as well as some of the four others on the 27-foot sailboat with Thornton, said the sailboat did not have running lights, which could prove to be a major factor in the nighttime accident.
