Pendleton man identified after he was pulled from Columbia River in Kennewick

Published 5:33 pm Friday, May 14, 2021

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Oscar Castaneda, 29, of Pendleton, was found drowned on Friday, May 14, in the Columbia River near the Lampson hydroplane pits at Columbia Park in Kennewick, Washington.

He has family in Pasco, Washington, said Benton County Chief Deputy Coroner Dennis Morris.

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It’s believed he drowned sometime on the evening of Thursday, May 13, in the river and floated a short distance downriver to where he was discovered near the bank.

Investigators still are trying to determine why he was in the park and how exactly he went into the water. Castaneda was fully clothed, so it didn’t appear that he was swimming.

Foul play is not suspected at this time, Morris said. No autopsy is planned.

Kennewick police were called to the east end of the park about 8:15 a.m. on May 14.

A woman reported seeing what appeared to be a body or mannequin in the river, said Benton County sheriff’s Cpl. Dan Korten.

Columbia Basin Dive Rescue divers were called in to help bring him to shore.

The river still is 50 degrees, and people can quickly be overcome by the cold, explained Scott Ruppelius, dive rescue’s public information officer.

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death since the body was found in the river rather than in the park.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office through the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333.

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