A 24-year-old woman has died after being involved in a boating incident while tubing with friends.
Kaileigh Seidel lost her life on June 22 from injuries she sustained in the collision on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.
She was 'thrown' from the boat and collided with another boat at around 8pm local time, according to police - with Kaileigh's friend, Millie Lovea, having to watch on helplessly.
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Kaileigh was riding inflatable tube strapped to the back of a boat.
"My beautiful best friend and I had just gotten out on the water, having what seemed like a fun time, when everything changed in an instant," she told the Daily Mail.
Millie added: "Seeing my friend hurt and feeling helpless is something I can't shake. Making the call to her family was even worse.
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"I'm overwhelmed with guilt and sadness, wondering why things happened the way they did.
"I keep replaying the events in my mind, questioning what I could have done differently or better to save her.
"Survivor's guilt is real, and it's something I'm gonna carry every single day."
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office River Patrol is investigating Kaileigh's death after a 911 caller 'reported that they had witnessed a woman getting struck by another boat'.
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"The woman was transported to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead after she arrived," the spokesperson said.
A police spokesperson told KPTV they will determine whether to file criminal charges 'once the facts are clear' and they have finished speaking to witnesses.
Millie claims the boat driver was 'whipping back and forth through the river' and took a turn too fast.
This apparently led to the tube flipping over, alongside Kaileigh, into the other boat.
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After hearing Millie's version of events, Kaileigh's aunt, Rachelle Hunsperger, has laid the blame on the boat driver.
"She did not 'fall off' of a boat. This boat driver needs to be held accountable," the family member told KPTV.
"This was no simple accident. I feel that there is somebody definitely at fault and hopefully that comes out."
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A GoFundMe page has since been set up in Kaileigh's memory by Terra Yoder, the 24-year-old's boss.
"Her amazing energy and beautiful smile always made this world a better place," the fundraiser states.
"This tragedy has left so many of us heartbroken and confused as to why such a young, beautiful life can be cut so short. Kaileigh was a light for so many"
Money raised from the GoFundMe will go towards 'all expenses for the funeral and celebration of life'.
UNILAD has reached out to The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Topics: US News
Callum Jones