The U.S. Coast Guard says it is investigating the capsizing of a Dungeness crab fishing boat in the stormy waters off the Oregon coast near Newport that killed three men.

The Coast Guard said Wednesday evening that the men had requested a Coast Guard escort across the Yaquina Bay Bar before the vessel capsized Tuesday night.

The Coast Guard says it sent a crew and a 52-foot boat to meet the crew for the escort and that it was nearby when the fishing boat capsized. The Coast Guard crew began searching for the men and called for support.

The Coast Guard says it sent another boat and helicopter while Newport Fire Department sent responders to search a nearby beach.

Authorities found the bodies of James Lacey, Joshua Porter and Stephen Biernacki late Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

According to a call we received from a listener this morning, Joshua Porter was a Crescent School District student here in Clallam County and still has family living in Joyce.