By Steven Sandberg & Associated Press
 
October 12, 2009
 
SAVAGE RAPIDS, Ore. - Three passengers injured in a jet boat crash Friday at Savage Rapids that left the boat operator dead are now out of the hospital.
 
The accident occurred the same day that Savage Rapids Dam was breached to allow salmon and steelhead to negotiate the Rogue River. The dam has blocked the river since 1921.
 
Friends say 39-year-old Jeff Bradley, a member of Poor Boy Racing, had been planning on making a run through Savage Rapids ever since it was announced that the dam was coming down.
 
Investigators say he took six trips down that section of river Friday. His passengers included his 12-year-old son and two other friends. Before the final run, they took a half-hour break. During that time, the water level dropped and sediment shifted, exposing the area.
 
On his final run, Bradley's boat hit a rock just past the site of the dam and flipped twice. The three passengers were thrown out of the boat, while Bradley was still on board. Bradley was dragged to shore 300 yards downstream of the dam.
 
The Josephine County Coroner has not yet determined the exact cause of death.
 
Racing teammates say he was a skilled racer, and are shocked that something like this could happen.
 
"Jeff was the adamant gentleman racer. He loved this river and this community. Just this morning, I was looking over some footage of the times we've had and, I'm going to miss him every day," Friend and Teammate Chris Dyer said.
 
The Grants Pass Irrigation District and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office are urging people to stay away from the area while sediment is still settling in the river.
 
A public memorial service for Bradley will be held Wednesday at Griffith Park.