LEWISTON - The investigation continues into last week's fatal boat crash.

77-year-old Harold Miller was killed when the boat he was driving crashed into an Interstate Bridge pillar catwalk and sunk to the bottom of the Snake River.

Monday, the boat he was driving was pulled from the murky waters.

Hoping to find some more answers, the Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office and Riverview Marina were on the water at about 9:00 a.m. to pull the sunken boat to shore.

"The transom of the boat was sitting against the pillar, and we were able to hook right up to it, with Riverview doing the recovery," said Nez Perce County Marine Deputy Sergeant Jay Colvin.. "And they were able to take off at about a thirty degree angle and pull it right over the bank. We didn't know if that I-Bolt was going to hold, but it just worked out a lot smoother than we were even hoping."

Colvin is a diver for the county. He said the initial investigation revealed Miller, and his passenger Len Young of Kellogg, were headed full speed down the river when they collided with an Interstate Bridge pillar.

"You can tell that took place when the boat was headed down river approximately 25-30 miles an hour and collided with the catwalk on the south end of the pillar," said Colvin.

A hole the size of a baseball at the front of the boat, and damage to a bridge navigation lock, show the force it took to stop, and eventually sink the boat.

"The catwalk landing is made of over a half inch plate of steel where those posts connect into, and that half-inch plate of steel is bent up at about a 45 degree angle, which is mainly what caused that hole," said Colvin.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will again be inspecting the bridge this week to do measurements and repairs.

Len Young was treated for his injuries and released from St. Joe’s following the crash.

Colvin said they are still trying to find out what may have led to the collision, which happened in the early morning hours Wednesday. He said speed, and how dark it was are a couple of the many factors that likely contributed to this tragedy.

"It's cold outside, they're trying to warm up the inside, that causes fogging in the windows, and there's that ambient lighting coming form the city and coming from the bridge itself," said Colvin. "During that night navigation, people just need to slow down to a safe speed, and have proper lookout."