2 Die as Boat Capsizes; Rescue Copter Crashes

An 82-year-old woman and her son died Saturday afternoon when their boat capsized in waves off the Humboldt County coast and the Coast Guard helicopter attempting to rescue them crashed into the surf near the community of Samoa.

The Coast Guard responded to a 911 call at 1:30 p.m. reporting that a boat, the White Horse II, had gotten too close to the breaking surf and capsized, tossing four people into the water near Samoa Beach, officials said. Two passengers swam to shore.

Vesta Lorraine Baker and her son, Charles Wayne Baker, 59, both drowned, the Humboldt County coroner’s office said. Three members of the Coast Guard helicopter crew suffered minor injuries.