HOPE — Jose “Gomie” Gomez, 52, has been identified as the victim of a fatal boating crash Saturday, Sept. 20, as the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office announced an investigation into the incident is underway.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the boat’s owner, Sean Caldon, was operating the vessel at the time of the crash, and alcohol has been determined to be a contributing factor, according to sheriff’s officials. A joint investigation is being conducted by Idaho State Police and the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division.

Sheriff’s officials were alerted to the crash at about 10:50 p.m. Saturday, when Bonner County Dispatch received a 911 call from Caldon, 54, reporting that he had run his boat aground on Cottage Island.

Caldon told officials his passenger, Gomez, had been ejected from the boat and was missing. Multiple first responders and emergency personnel responded to the scene, including the sheriff’s office, Idaho State Police, Bonner County Emergency Services, and the Sam Owen and Sandpoint fire departments.

Sam Owen Fire was the first agency on scene and initiated search efforts for Gomez. Upon locating him on land, the agency reported several lifesaving attempts before pronouncing him dead, according to sheriff’s officials.

An investigation into Gomez’s death is underway by the Bonner County Coroner’s Office.

Any potential criminal charges will be determined after a full review of the findings of the investigation.