On October 6, 2026, at approximately 3 p.m., the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a body in the Columbia River near the tip of the sandbar. Deputies responded and recovered the body shortly afterward.  The body was identified as David Kalousdian, who was reported missing from the same general area on October 1, 2026.

The investigation determined that David’s inflatable life vest did not have a recharge kit installed, which rendered it ineffective.  The recovery concluded the search launched after his kayak was found adrift in the Columbia River.  Search efforts included the Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol vessel and Search & Rescue plane.

Although the search ended sadly, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is honored to have recovered David’s remains and hopes this provides his family with some sense of closure.

At approximately 2:08 p.m. on October 1, 2026, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of a small boat adrift near the end of the sandbar in the Columbia River.

A short time later, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol located a fishing kayak in the area with its trolling motor still running. A search for the owner began immediately, with assistance from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office plane, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police, and the Hood River Police Department.

The kayak’s owner was later identified as David Kalousdian of Hood River. He was not located during the search and is presumed deceased. Search efforts will continue, but the mission is now considered a recovery operation.