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The identity of the driver and the passengers of a boat that lost control and ran aground on the Kenai River this weekend have been released.

On Friday afternoon, Lonnie White, 53, was driving his 20-foot Grayling, an open skiff with a center console, upriver near River Mile 16.5, according to Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Ranger Jack Ransom.

On board with White was Randy Colbenson, 48, and Joyce Schler, 45.

Ransom did not have the residences for the three.

Ransom said that around 3 p.m. White was traveling upstream when the lower unit of his motor hit a log.

The impact caused the boat to "skip or slide" across the water.

Ransom said the boat "bit down into the water" when this happened and ejected White into the river.

The two occupants who were sitting in the bow of White's boat were not able to get up and disengage the throttle or take control of the boat, according to Ransom.

The boat, still traveling on step and without an operator, began to veer left, striking the motor of a 19-foot blue Challenger moored in front of Krog's Kamp, a fishing guide and lodging service. The Challenger is owned by the camp.

The impact put a large gash on the port side of White's boat that Ransom reported was severe enough to tear the aluminum.

Ransom said White's boat may have veered slightly back out into the river but then banked in toward shore again and launched itself fully up the side of the river bank.

No one was in the Challenger when it was struck.

The entire incident took place over an estimated distance of 50 yards in a matter of a few seconds, Ransom reported.

He said no injuries were treated, but White, who extracted himself from the river, had "cold shock."

Colbenson and Schler were both wearing personal flotation devices when Ransom arrived on scene, but White was thrown into the river without one.

"He said he attempted to grab for (a lifejacket) at the last second but there was not time and before he knew it he was in the water," Ransom said.

He could not provide an estimate for the total cost of the damages to the two vessels.

Ransom could not say why White had not seen the log.

"I'm not too sure why he didn't see it. He didn't say it was submerged," Ransom said.

No citations are being issued as a result of the accident.

"Basically when an accident occurs, every case is a little different, but more often than not we view boating accidents the same way as the Coast Guard, everybody is at fault," he said.

Ransom said that neither alcohol or negligent operation was suspected in this case.

He said a lack of statute makes it hard to press charges.

"There aren't any set rules of the road on the Kenai River. Most do operate as if they were on a highway, but that's not set in law," He said.

As a result, he said most citizen-to-citizen incidents don't result in citations.

"The bottom line is there was an accident that could have been avoided, and whether this person or that person is at fault is up to the insurance companies to determine," he said.

Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com.