Woman killed in boating accident at Pine Flat Lake identified

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- 67-year-old Neva Marlene Klomp from Clovis is dead after a boating incident at Pine Flat Lake.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office, along with several other first responders, received a call around 8 pm Friday.

The boat hit a log in the water, causing the boat to change direction.

"It's real hard right now, real hard right now," said friend, Danny Akers, a friend of Klomp.

He said he is heartbroken after hearing Klomp died Friday night.

"Everybody in the boat got thrown to the ground. The one female that passed away got thrown into the side of the boat where she suffered some head trauma," said Fresno County Sheriff's Sergeant Jeff Stricker.

Boating on the lake is a safe alternative for people this summer.

However, Sgt. Stricker said it has become riskier this year with the record snowpack.

As water levels rise, debris washes down.

Trees and logs are left floating in the lakes across the Central Valley.

Stricker said it's been a devastating start to the summer season.

"When someone's like 'Hey, we're gonna go have a fun day', and then it turns into tragedy. That's terrible," he said.

Friends of Klomp said all she wanted to do was live life to the fullest and have fun with the people she loved. Her kindness is how friends hope to remember her.

"Life of the party, she made everything fun. Would give the shirt off her back for anybody. She loved my grandchildren as much as her grandchildren," said Akers.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Klomp's family.