Mother of physician killed in kayak crash with Buena Vista Ferry sues Marion County

The mother of a Salem physician who died last year after a ferry collided with his kayak is suing Marion County, alleging it failed to train the ferry operator to safely steer on the Willamette River. 

Melodie Jackson filed the lawsuit on Feb. 20 in Marion County Circuit Court on behalf of her son, Jacob Jackson, against the county and Alex Woolner, an acquaintance who provided him a “defective” kayak, according to the civil complaint.