Boy Accidentally Hits Brother With Boat

A 15-year-old Spokane Valley boy who was driving a boat Saturday afternoon accidentally hit his older brother with the engine propeller, slashing the youth’s leg and foot.

Russell D. Bastian, 19, was taken to Kootenai Medical Center.

Bastian and another youth were riding on inner-tubes towed behind a boat on Hauser Lake, said Sgt. Dan Soumas of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department. Bastian’s younger brother was driving the vessel.

About 3 p.m., Bastian fell off his inner-tube during a turn and the 15-year-old came back with the boat to get him, Soumas said.

“He made a miscalculation,” Soumas said. “He just miscalculated where he should come off plane and slow the boat.”

Bastian tried to get out of the oncoming boat’s path, Soumas said.

“He tried to swim away and the prop hit his foot,” Soumas said. “He didn’t know he’d been hit until they dragged him in.”

The boat propeller left severe gashes on Bastian’s right foot and lower leg. He was taken to a house near the Hauser Lake Fire Department and from there to the hospital. Bastian was released Sunday.

“When you are going back to pick up a skier or tuber you need to come off a plane sooner and go slower,” Soumas said. “Props are unforgiving. There is no such thing as a small propeller cut.”

, DataTimes