A 39-year-old Aberdeen man is missing after his vehicle became disabled when he reportedly drove into floodwaters on Porter Creek Road west of Elma late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
According to the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were advised of the situation at 3:19 a.m. Sunday. Porter Creek Road was closed at the time of the incident.
“The reporting party advised he got a call from his friend who said that he drove his truck into the floodwaters on Porter Creek Road West and became disabled,” Undersheriff Brad Johansson said in a news release. “He asked his friend to come tow his vehicle from the location. When the friend arrived at approximately 2:30 a.m., he walked to the vehicle and the Aberdeen male was not in the vehicle. The water was swift in the area of the disabled vehicle and the reporting party advised he was nearly swept off the roadway going to and from the disabled vehicle.”
Deputies arrived at 3:36 a.m. but were unable to launch a boat due to darkness and the extremely dangerous water conditions, according to the news release.
The Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Thurston County Swift Water Rescue Team, which determined it was not safe to enter the water until daylight hours.
The sheriff's office also requested assistance from the Pacific County Sheriff's Office to search the area with a drone that is equipped with thermal imaging.
“The area was searched with the drone and they did not locate the missing person,” according to the news release.
“It is uncertain if the missing person was swept away in the floodwaters or possibly walked out on his own and obtained other transportation,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “The Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office wants to remind people do not drive on closed roads. Driving in floodwaters is dangerous and should be avoided.”
