Parents of drowned reporter raise funds for lifeguard tower

LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — The drowning of an ABC News doctor has family members raising money for a lifeguard tower.

Jamie Zimmerman died earlier this month while trying to cross the Lumahai River where it meets the ocean. Her family wants to put a lifeguard tower on a nearby beach.

An IndieGoGo page is raising money for a tower county officials say could cost as much as $400,000 to build and operate for a year. Annual salaries and benefits for the five lifeguards needed would total about $300,000.

Kauai County spokeswoman Sarah Blane said in an email the county is communicating with the family about best uses for the funds raised in their effort.