Teen died of accidental drowning

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office reported Monday that the recent death of a Camas teen was caused by accidental drowning.

The body of David William Charles Gilmore was pulled from the waters of Lacamas Creek in Camas on Monday, May 31, after being discovered by two people who were hiking in Lacamas Park.

Due to rough water and steep terrain, the challenging recovery operation took more than six hours. Participating agencies included the Camas Fire Department, Vancouver Fire Department and Clark County Fire District 6.

According to Camas Police Department Det. Carol Buck, police are still conducting interviews related to the incident, but law enforcement officials do not currently suspect any foul play was involved in Gilmore’s death.

“That’s what it looked like when the body was recovered, and that’s what it looks like now,” Buck said.

Gilmore, 17, was a student at Camas High School. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, at 4 p.m. at the Camas-Washougal Wildlife League, 811 S.E. Leadbetter Road in Camas.

A fundraiser to help Gilmore’s family pay for funeral expenses will be held at Lakeside Chalet on Tuesday, June 15, from 5 to 7 p.m.

According to organizer Pamela Stanley, donations will be accepted for the meal that will include spaghetti, Caesar salad and garlic bread. Monetary contributions can also be made at any branch of Lacamas Community Credit Union.

Stanley said that Gilmore, son of Jessica and Gordon Rodgers of Camas and Larry Gilmore of Washougal, has been a patron at the restaurant since he was a little boy. His favorite meal, she said, was biscuits and gravy.

Lakeside Chalet is located at 3533 N.E. Everett St., in Camas. For more information about the benefit event, call 834-3430.