Near-tragedies mark stormy day at coast

Hazardous weather forces closure of Tillamook Bay and Columbia River bars: The Coast Guard captain of the Port of Portland closed the Columbia River and Tillamook Bay bars late Thursday due to hazardous conditions. Any request to traverse the bars prior to reopening must be approved by the captain. Vessels are advised to use Yaquina Bay or be prepared to remain at sea until the weather clears. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on Channel 16. The Coast Guard expects to reopen the bars on or before 5 p.m. Sunday.

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Heavy rain and wind made it a tough night across the region Thursday from downed trees and a collapsed hotel deck along the coast that sent half a dozen men into the frigid Columbia River.

A huge branch came crashing down in front of Crystal Acevedo-Alonso’s Vancouver home and almost hit her husband’s car.

It could have been a lot worse and Acevedo-Alonso was glad it didn’t hit anything, especially the house. “It could have been on me,” she said.

It was worse at a Red Lion hotel in Astoria.

Cody Spicer, his dad, and four others on a crabbing trip were standing on a deck that’s now stacked in a jumble of pieces.

Just after 5 p.m., the deck (shown at right) they were standing on gave way and threw all six into the dark and cold Columbia River.

“I could feel myself hit the bottom of the bay, and I popped back up,” said Spicer. “I came to the surface and got my wherewithal, and then I started screaming for my dad and my dad was half-drowning in the water.”

All escaped with minor injuries, and rescue crews said they aren’t sure the accident was weather related.

Earlier in the day in Lincoln City waves from the storm-swollen ocean pinned a beachcomber to a log in front of stunned locals.

“It’s very dangerous out there, and I wouldn’t be walking for nothin’ right now,” said one onlooker.

A short time later, the same woman had her back to the ocean while snapping photos when another wave swept her off her feet and left her struggling in the surf.

She made it out of the ocean OK but didn’t want to talk about what happened.

Below: Meteorologist's Dave Salesky's full forecast as of 11 p.m. Thursday