Award-winning Oregon chef Naomi Pomeroy drowns in river accident

PORTLAND, Ore. — Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who helped put Portland on the map as a culinary destination, has drowned in an inner tubing accident, authorities said. Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening in the Willamette River near Corvallis after the group she was tubing with got caught on an exposed snag in the water, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “I want to thank all involved in the search and recovery mission and support during this difficult time.” The sheriff’s office warned people not to attach themselves to a paddle board unless it has a quick release leash, and advised against tying two or more inner tubes together, as doing so means each person should have a life jacket. “Most ankle leashes used by SUP users are not designed for quick release,” Brian Paulsen, the agency’s boating safety program manager, said in a statement Tuesday.