65-foot boat sinks near Hood Canal Bridge

Photo: KOMO Photo 65-foot boat sinking near Hood Canal Bridge.

POULSBO, Wash. — Eight people managed to escape to safety when their 65-foot boat began sinking near the Hood Canal Bridge Tuesday evening.

It's unclear what caused the boat to start to take on water about 1.3 miles southwest of the bridge, but as the boat began sinking, those on board initially tried to pump the water out, according to Levi Read with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Eventually it became too dangerous to stay on board and the eight people evacuated to a dinghy and row to shore.

Coast Guard officials arrived and went back to the boat with the boat's owner in a second attempt to pump out water, but again were unsuccessful.

The boat was expected to sink in about 80-90 feet of water, Read said. It's carrying about 300 gallons of diesel fuel and 12 gallons of oil, and private divers have been hired to secure the fuel, according to the State Department of Ecology.

No one was injured.

This story first appeared on KOMO NEWS.