LAKESIDE (CNS) - Family and friends Saturday publicly identified the two men who were killed in a boat crash at the El Capitan Reservoir Thursday night.
The victims were identified as Jeffry Ingram, 21, whose body was found the night of the crash, and Russell Mendez, 20, whose body was found by lifeguard divers about 12:30 p.m. Friday, roughly 17 hours after the accident.
The victims were aboard a drifting vessel that was struck by a speeding boat shortly before 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the man-made lake off El Monte Road, according to police. Both vessels capsized.
Multiple news outlets reported the names of the victims Friday and posts on social media and other websites apparently verified those reports.
A man named Michael Ingram posted on Facebook Friday morning and said "Last night, my youngest brother Jeffry Ingram died doing something he loved, fishing.
"He just turned 21 ... He did not deserve to die, not now, not like this. I hope that justice will be served to the two men who slammed their boat into the stationary boat my brother and his friend Russell were fishing from.
"My brother Jeff, I will love you always. May you rest in peace."
A website that appeared to be connected to Patrick Henry High School's football program, henryfootball.com, posted on Friday saying "It is with great sadness and sorrow that we say goodbye to a former Patriot. Russell Mendez, a former varsity Linebacker for Patrick Henry died yesterday in boating accident at El Capitan Reservoir. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family."
The website Maxpreps.com listed Russell Mendez as a junior on the 2010-2011 season roster but did not list him on the roster his senior year.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office has not officially released the names of the men.
The two occupants of the other boat suffered minor cuts and bruises and were taken to a hospital.
The reservoir, owned by the city of San Diego, was searched by divers for Mendez' body until they had to suspended the effort due to darkness, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Lee Swanson said.
The multi-agency recovery operation resumed Friday morning and continued after Mendez was found as divers searched for debris evidence.