By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
August 2, 2007

The cause of death for a windsurfer who died last week is still under investigation.

Hood River County Medical Examiner Craig Danner said anytime there is a traumatic death, the case goes to the state medical examiner’s office for investigation and review. He said it was likely the cause would be known before the end of this week.

Janet Ann Nelson, 53, of Hood River, died July 26 at 12:11 p.m. after being pulled from the Columbia River near Rock Creek in Mosier.

Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Price confirmed that Nelson was found face down in the water with her windsurfing board floating nearby.

Price said Friday that Nelson’s death is being investigated as a drowning. He said she was found unresponsive and unconscious.

According to the 9-1-1 log, her windsurfing gear washed up along the shore, which led to the initial missing person’s report. Another windsurfer discovered Nelson’s body and reported it to 9-1-1.