Man floating Boise River says he was ‘run over’ by fire department boat, seeks damages

On the evening of July 6, Meridian resident Shawn White was floating down the Boise River with his son. Around 5 p.m., they passed under Boise’s 9th Street bridge — and suddenly, White was struck by a Boise Fire Department boat, according to a tort claim White filed with the city.

The boat forced White under the water, according to the claim, filed Sept. 11 by Dylan Orton, White’s attorney. The claim was obtained by the Idaho Statesman in a public records request. Tort claims are typically filed as precursors to a lawsuit.

“Mr. White was, essentially, run over by this Boise Fire Department boat,” Orton wrote, alleging “negligence” on the part of the department. Fire department personnel apologized to White after the collision, according to the claim.

Orton did not respond to emails requesting comment. Lynsey Amundson, a spokesperson for the department, declined to comment on pending litigation.

The claim did not specify how much White intended to seek in damages, but said Orton would seek “fair compensation for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional trauma.” The claim estimated that White’s medical costs to treat injuries to his shoulder, knee, back and ankle would exceed $10,000.

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