Spanaway-area man, 18, drowns at lake

ALDER LAKE, Pierce County - An 18-year-old man drowned over the weekend while swimming with a friend in Alder Lake.

The death of Travis Olesen of the Spanaway area is Pierce County's third drowning this year.

Olesen, son of a Pierce County sheriff's deputy, and his friend were swimming to a small island in the lake Sunday when Olesen slipped below the surface, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

His friend tried unsuccessfully to keep him afloat.