NEZ PERCE COUNTY, Idaho — Steve Wessels Jr. was not only known in Lewiston but by fellow jet boat racers, too.
Sunday, in lieu of a second day of racing, organizers held this tribute ride followed by a moment of silence.
On Saturday, authorities said two boats crashed during the race on the Snake River, several miles south of Lewiston. Friends identified Wessels as the man who died.
"I just cried and cried yesterday. It was a really difficult day," said Erica Broyles, a friend of Wessels.
Wessels' wife posted on Facebook about her husband's passing, saying, "You are the heart of our whole family."
"As a mother myself, I can't imagine losing your husband, father to your child," Broyles added.
Specifics of the crash aren't entirely clear and authorities said the three people who were injured are expected to survive. Wessels died at the scene.
"He was just always happy. Go-lucky guy. Helping where he could, really positive," Broyles said.
In just a day, fundraising efforts for his family have brought in thousands of dollars, a sign of what Wessels meant to those in the Lewiston area.
"The community knows him well. It's crazy, the overwhelming response," Broyles said.
