Son of former San Francisco 49ers CEO Peter Harris dies in boat crash
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Michael Harris, the son of former San Francisco 49ers CEO Peter Harris died early Sunday morning in a boat collision off Santa Catalina Island in Southern California.
Michael, 26, was with his girlfriend and three others on a dinghy about a quarter mile off Catalina Island's Casino Point when according to his mother it was struck by a speeding boat. Witnesses say they heard someone screaming for help around 1 a.m. Sunday morning. His girlfriend, Kelly Wells and two other friends were injured and flown to the hospital. A fifth person was reported missing.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the Coast Guard launched a dive and sonar search but suspended their efforts at 7 p.m. Sunday pending new information.
Peter Harris was the CEO of the 49ers from 2000 to 2004. His family says Michael just received his masters in counseling psychology at Santa Clara University and was starting a new job as a high school counselor. They say they'll miss how much Michael lit up a room, his self-deprecating humor and his compassion for others.
As for the three who were flown to the hospital, two suffered minor injuries while the third is recovering from a head wound.
