“The Washington State Patrol is investigation the apparent death of a Seattle man who fell from the ferry Puyallup Sunday evening, and is continuing to look into the circumstances that led up to the incident.The man, who is presumed drowned but whose body has not been recovered, was identified as Anthony W. Reed, 30, of Seattle.Reed went overboard at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday as the ferry made its turn to the north to sail along Rockaway Beach before entering Eagle Harbor.Authorities have yet to determine whether the man fell from the ferry by accident, or threw himself into the water deliberately.Some reports have said that Reed was sitting on the ferry railing before the fall, but Washington State Patrol spokesman Glen Tyrell said investigators cannot confirm that as fact.We are reviewing witness statements now, Tyrell said Tuesday, as the State Patrol did not assume control of the investigation until Monday evening.Tyrell said the agency took over the inquiry from the Coast Guard because the death occurred on state property, namely the ferry.Ferry passengers reported the fall almost immediately, and the vessel’s crew conducted a search of the water.All of a sudden the boat stopped its engines, said David Lamping of Bainbridge Island, a passenger on that run. I saw people looking in the water, so I looked too. I saw a backpack and a life ring, then crewmen in a dinghy.According to the Coast Guard, members of the ferry crew initially spotted someone in the water, but then lost sight of the person.Reed’s backpack was recovered, though, and he was identified from that, Tyrell said.Bainbridge fire and police department boats joined the search, as did a Coast Guard patrol boat and helicopter, and a Seattle Fire Department vessel.The search was suspended about midnight, officials said.Bainbridge fire crews and police launched boats again early Monday evening, after a report by a Rockaway Beach resident of an object floating in the water near shore. The object turned out to be a crab pot.According to Tyrell, an island resident, the tides and currents around Bainbridge are too unpredictable to estimate reliably when and where a body might wash up. “
Man still missing after ferry plungeA Seattle residentis presumed dead after going over the rail Sunday.
"The Washington State Patrol is investigation the apparent death of a Seattle man who fell from the ferry Puyallup Sunday evening, and is continuing to look into the circumstances that led up to the incident.The man, who is presumed drowned but whose body has not been recovered, was identified as Anthony W. Reed, 30, of Seattle. "
