10 People Safe After Boat Explodes on Willamette River (UPDATED)

5 patients, suffering from minor burns, were sent to area hospitals, treated and released.

(OREGON CITY, Ore. ) - An underwater photo has been released by the Clackamas Sheriff's Office, showing the remains of a cabin cruiser that exploded Saturday night on the Willamette River. Using a "side scan underwater camera," the image shows the vessel literally in pieces on the river floor.

Just after midnight Saturday, the 26' cabin cruiser, with 10 passengers aboard, stalled in the middle of the upper Willamette River and exploded approximately one-half mile from the Oregon City falls.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Marine Deputies report the owner and captain of this boat is identified as Ryan A. Smith, of Oregon City (AKA Ryan's Scenic Float Plane Flights of Oregon City).

Reportedly, Ryan Smith and his passengers were attempting to restart the engine of this boat while it sat stalled in the middle of the river above the Oregon City falls.

Smith was attempting to restart the boats engine when a large explosion sent a flash through out the boat hurling at least one male passenger (Chris Bresaw) some 6' into the air and onto the ignited engine compartment.

A fast thinking passenger onboard at the time, Scott G. Strand, of Wilsonville immediately made an emergency cell phone call into Clackamas County Dispatch, announcing the explosion and the location of the occurrence in the Willamette.

Responding to the shocking explosion -- everyone on board immediately jumped over board into the Willamette River and conducted a head count -- confirming all were present and accounted for.

Everyone was accounted for safely and as a group elected to swim to the Oregon City shoreline.

While swimming to the shoreline, a secondary explosion was observed on the burning boat from distance, which ultimately totally engulfed this craft that eventually sank in the middle of the river as rescue personnel were arriving onto the scene.

When rescue personnel representing Clackamas Fire District #1, American Medical Response, Tualatin Fire and Rescue and Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Marine arrived onto the scene an estimated 5 patients were either transported to local hospitals by ambulance or personally owned motor vehicles.