Calif. lawmakers' kin found in sunken boat

LOS ANGELES — What happened that clear, moonless night in the Pacific remains a mystery.

A Southern California couple were going for a midnight cruise to Santa Catalina Island, and a huge 128-foot barge was lumbering toward the Port of Los Angeles.

Radar shows the vessels colliding between midnight and 12:20 a.m. Oct. 2. The impact smashed the small boat, but the pilot of the barge apparently did not know an accident had occurred.

The debris was found later that morning.

On Thursday, two bodies were pulled from the ocean. They are believed to be those of Henry Sanchez, the brother of two Southern California congresswomen, and his girlfriend, Penny Avila, who were described as experienced boaters.

Investigators are trying to figure out how their small pleasure craft collided with the barge and sank to the ocean floor.

"It looks like this was a very tragic accident," said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Chief William McSweeney, whose dive teams were involved in the search.

Those familiar with the waters between Los Angeles and Catalina said the channel can be a congested mix of huge freight ships, fishing vessels, small pleasure craft and tour boats.

Since 1997, there have been nine accidents in California's coastal waters involving boats and barges that resulted in six injuries and the two fatalities, said Gloria Sandoval, spokeswoman for the state Department of Boating and Waterways.

Henry Sanchez, 51, was the brother of U.S. Reps. Loretta Sanchez and Linda Sanchez, both Democrats. He lived with Avila, 48, in Santa Ana, relatives told the U.S. Coast Guard.

The couple were heading to Catalina on the 26-foot Bayliner. A relative saw the pair off shortly after midnight, Coast Guard officials said.

Investigators do not know who was operating the boat.

Sanchez's Bayliner appeared to be going about 25 knots and slid under an edge that stuck out of the barge, said a source close to the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Although McSweeney identified one of the bodies as that of Henry Sanchez and the other as "what appear to be the remains of Penny Avila," coroner's officials said the bodies had not been positively identified.

On Thursday, Linda and Loretta Sanchez issued a joint statement: "It is with heavy hearts that we learn of their tragic fate," they said. "We ask that you keep our family and the Avila family in your prayers."