Brian Matthew Nolan, a 21-year-old communications major at Sacramento State, died in a boating accident while on a weekend church trip Saturday at Black Butte Lake when he slipped and hit the boat’s propeller, said Sgt. Ed Anderson, spokesperson for the Glenn County Sheriff’s Department.

Nolan’s father, Steven, was driving the boat with five young passengers and was in the process of changing riders on a tube when the accident occurred.

“They were idling in gear, letting out rope when Brian either got caught on the rope and was knocked over the back or slipped over the back of the boat due to the seats being wet as he possibly was putting up a swim ladder,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the major injuries to Nolan’s head and chest caused his death. Emergency personnel from the Glenn and Tehama County’s Sheriff’s Department arrived at the Buckhorn launch ramp within 16 minutes and pronounced him dead at the scene.

“If we had a team of surgeons it would not have made any difference; it was that bad,” Anderson said.

Anderson said it was the first boating fatality in the seven years he has worked for the Glenn County Boating and Waterways Program. An incident of that nature has not occurred in 20 years.

Shirley Uplinger, vice president of student affairs, said she spoke to Nolan’s mother early this morning.

“It has got to be horribly tragic for the family, especially for the father who was driving the boat,” Uplinger said.

Ross Palmerton played soccer with Nolan for Granite Bay High since their freshman year and said Nolan was due to graduate from Sac State this year. He said Nolan taught him how to play the guitar, among other things he will never forget.

“He was the kind of guy that seemed like he would live forever. It sounds so typical but I can truthfully say that he was by far the nicest person I have ever met,” Palmerton said.

“He was a very well liked student; it is obviously tragic when we lose one of our own.” said Rob Hasty, Granite Bay High assistant principle.