Originally published Friday, October 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Calif. lawmakers' kin found in sunken boat
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.
Los Angeles Times
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."
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
More Nation & World headlines...
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate
S.C. gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws
U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show
Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm
India's feeling bruised even before White House visit

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
A little friendly competition between professional pie-baker Kate McDermott and The Seatttle Times' Kathleen Triesch Saul is handled with great taste.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
390 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
212 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
159 - New Husky recruit: Enes Kanter
101 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
85 - Middleton says Huskies "plan on scoring at least 50 points'' Saturday
82 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
75 - Seattle woman charged with knife attack on boyfriend's ex
71 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
68 - Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
63
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Taste | The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit








