Coast Guard rescues 3 after boat hits submerged object near Sand Island, Wash.

ILWACO, Wash. — Two Coast Guard boatcrews rescued three people aboard a boat that hit a submerged object and became dead in the water near Sand Island, on the Columbia River, Friday afternoon.   The boaters were reportedly uninjured and the stricken 26-foot boat was towed into the port of Ilwaco and moored safely.   A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Oregon, received the radio call for help on VHF-FM channel 16 at 3:25 p.m. The watchstander directed the launch of assets from Station Cape Disappointment and diverted an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist. The boatcrews arrived on scene within minutes of receiving the call and began assisting the boaters. A Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment crew, aboard a 29-foot Response Boat Small II, was used to tow the vessel from shallow waters, where it was then passed off to a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew conducted the tow to Ilwaco.   The sea conditions in the area included 3 to 5-foot choppy swells and wind gusts were 25 to 35 mph from the southeast. At the time of the incident the Columbia River bar was closed to recreational vessels 20 feet in length and below.