Two Dead, One Missing After Bogachiel River Boating Accident
Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 6, 2025
Two people died and a third remains missing following a boating accident on Thursday afternoon on the Bogachiel River, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
The overturned boat was reported around 12:07 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, near milepost 4 off SR-110/La Push Rd., southwest of Forks. A 33-year-old Port Orchard man managed to cling to a tree and call 911, reporting that three others, two adults and a child, were still in the water.
Responding deputies and rescue crews from multiple agencies, including Clallam County Fire Districts 1 and 6, Forks Ambulance, La Push Police Department, La Push Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Park Service, launched an extensive search and rescue operation.
First responders located and pulled 35-year-old Christian Akers of Sequim and his 7-year-old son, Wyatt Akers, from the river. Despite lifesaving efforts, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The search continues for Alfonso Graham, 39, of Port Orchard, who has been missing since the accident. Sheriff Brian King said Friday that worsening weather conditions were complicating search efforts.
“The search is going, but the weather is turning with heavy precipitation and wind,” King said Friday afternoon. “That’s making search efforts more challenging with the rising river and the color. The visibility hasn’t been great.”
About 20 first responders, family members, and volunteers joined in the search Friday, focusing initially on the Goodman Mainline Bridge area, where the U.S. Coast Guard reported spotting a possible body Thursday night. Searchers later shifted downstream toward the Wilson Road boat ramp and Leyendecker County Park.
The drift boat was recovered around noon on Friday. However, the Sheriff’s Office and Incident Command later suspended the search for the day due to heavy rain, strong winds, and poor visibility on the river.
Sheriff King urged the public to stay off the river as conditions worsen, noting that up to two inches of rain were expected within 48 hours.
Although life jackets were found in the recovered boat, none of the occupants had been wearing them, King said.
In addition to the ongoing search for Graham, rescuers and volunteers were also looking for the Akers family’s missing dog, a two-year-old silver Lab named Turbo, who was on the boat at the time of the accident. Turbo was located on Monday and returned to his familt in Sequim.
Authorities expressed gratitude for the community’s support and patience as crews continue working under dangerous conditions.
“We appreciate the continued support and understanding of the community as crews work safely and diligently,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to support the Akers family under – “Support for Akers Family after the Bogachiel River Tragedy.”
