Bonneville Deputy Passes Away From Injuries In Boating Accident

A Bonneville deputy has died from injuries he suffered in a boating accident Wednesday on Mud Lake.

Mark Weaver, 46, of Hamer, a deputy with the Corrections Division of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for six years, was recovered from Mud Lake on Wednesday.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a witness called 911 reporting he saw Weaver fall into the water off a sinking boat at about 1 p.m.

A helicopter from Desert Air Ag was instrumental in finding Weaver, who was found with a life jacket on, but face down in the water. Jefferson County also sent two boats and half a dozen divers to help with the search.

Deputies said Weaver had been in the 48-degree water for one hour by the time he was found.

“The individual had a life jacket on, but the water is cold, and high winds make it difficult to swim very far before hypothermia sets in,” said Jefferson Sheriff Blair Olsen.

He was pulled into a rescue boat, where emergency crews immediately began CPR.

Air Idaho arrived, but Weaver was transported by Mud Lake ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Emergency personnel searched the water for hours after the rescue of Weaver in case someone else was on board, but rescuers confirmed there was only one person on the boat.

Olsen said Weaver had bought the boat a few weeks ago and took it on the lake to test it out. The boat is now under 7 to 10 feet of water. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, but the lake was extremely choppy due to high winds Wednesday afternoon.

A memorial fund established at East Idaho Credit Union will benefit Weaver’s family.