Woman, 18, Drowns in Boating Accident

An 18-year-old Ojai woman drowned while boating with a group of friends on Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County, authorities said Saturday.

Maren India Hale slipped and fell out of a boat shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, said San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Sgt. Andy Rasmussen.

Hale and her friends were boating in a narrow inlet on the far western side of the massive recreation lake, which sits in northern San Luis Obispo County near the Monterey County line, Rasmussen said.

Divers searched for Hale’s body for two days before finding it 30 feet beneath the surface Friday afternoon, Rasmussen said. The water in the lake is extremely murky and there is zero visibility, the sergeant said.

At the time Hale fell out of the boat, several of her friends and other boaters in the area unsuccessfully attempted to rescue her, Rasmussen said.

There is no indication of foul play and the case is being handled as an accident, Rasmussen said.

Funeral arrangements were being planned Saturday by Hale’s mother, Carol Hale of Ojai. Maren Hale had been living with her mother and brother in Ojai.

A memorial fund has been set up to help the family with expenses. Donations may be mailed to the Maren India Hale Memorial Fund at Ojai Valley Bank, 1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023.