By Kim Minugh
kminugh@sacbee.com
A Sacramento man died today after sustaining injuries in what police suspect might have been a hit-and-run boating accident on the Sacramento River last week, according to authorities.
Sacramento police are now seeking the public's help in gathering more information about the July 18 incident.
Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said the victim, 51-year-old Kenneth Weatherington, left his home that Sunday to fish overnight on the Sacramento River. When he did not return the next day, relatives went looking for him.
They found his boat anchored in the middle of the Sacramento River, north of Old Sacramento, Leong said. They found Weatherington inside the boat's cabin with serious head injuries, Leong said.
UC Davis Medical Center officials contacted police July 20. Weatherington died there this afternoon, Leong said.
Leong said Weatherington's boat had front-end damage "consistent with another boat hitting it, although we don't know conclusively that's what happened." They believe the boat was facing north, and that the boat that caused the collision would have been going southbound, Leong said. (Photo below is of Weatherington's boat).
Police suspect Weatherington suffered the injuries in the collision, although they have not ruled out the possibility that he was injured by somebody who came aboard the boat, Leong said.
Authorities are hoping to speak to any boaters that may have been in the area the night of July 18 through the morning of the 19th.
The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this incident to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information.
Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038.
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