Houseboating Accident on Lake Shasta

On Saturday, 6-6-15, at 1803 hours, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of an injury boating accident near Bear Cove and Corey Cove on the Squaw Arm of Lake Shasta. It was learned that Jan Smotherman, age 66 of Dixon, CA, was operating a rented Silverthorn houseboat he and family members had picked up earlier in the day.

Jan Smotherman was preparing to park the houseboat by putting the front of the pontoons against the shore. As this occurred, two vessels (a ski boat and bass boat) belonging to the family, which were in tow by the houseboat, began to drift toward the stern of the houseboat. Family members began trying to push the two vessels away. In an effort to prevent one of the vessels from hitting the stern of the houseboat, Jenny Smotherman, age 40 of Rocklin, CA, jumped into the water directly behind the houseboat’s outdrive. The houseboat’s propeller was still in gear, causing Jenny Smotherman to be pulled towards the rotating propeller. She  received propeller cuts to both lower legs. She was taken to Silverthorn Resort and then flown to Mercy Hospital by helicopter. She is  ndergoing surgery at this time.

Alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in this accident.

– Press Release

Press Release

-from press release