Woman killed by sneaker wave near Siletz Bay identified

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A woman is dead after a sneaker wave dragged her out to sea near Siletz Bay on Sunday.

A call to first responders prompted a massive search along the Oregon Coast, but that woman was eventually found dead. She was later identified as 43-year old Caroline Moses of Corvallis.

The National Weather Service had issued a warning about potential sneaker waves for on Friday and Saturday — which has now been extended through Wednesday, according to North Lincoln Fire and Rescue.

Crews were called to a surf rescue around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The report said a sneaker wave had swept someone out so far that people back on the beach couldn’t see them.

NLF&R launched their rescue jet-skis with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard and Lincoln City police. Two hours later, Oregon State Police said Moses was found dead on the beach nearly four miles south from where she went in.

Investigators said Moses was actually on the sand walking back to the car when the sneaker wave hit.

“The wave came up, knocked them off their feet and swept them out into the ocean,” Cody Heidt with NLF&R said. “One of the other people in their party tried to go in after them and was nearly swept out as well. So we always encourage people just to immediately call 911 and try and keep eyes on the person in the water and let us go out there.”

Heidt said that, in this case, Moses was not dressed for the water and was wearing heavy clothing when she was dragged out.

According to NLF&R, they get as many visitors to the coast in the winter as they do in the summer.