FORKS — A man who law enforcement believed might have drowned in the Bogachiel River this morning has been found alive and well at his Forks home, said Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron.
Cameron said the unidentified man, who went missing after the car he was in was swept into the rising river this morning, was found at home at about 12:30 p.m.
A sheriff’s office rescue team had been dispatched to search the river for him after it was reported at 8:30 a.m.
A woman from Neah Bay, who was also in the car — which is submerged off of Smith Road, about six miles south of Forks — told authorities that she didn’t seem him reach the river bank near Bogachiel State Park.
It was unclear how he made it to his home.
Identities and ages of the man and woman have not been released.
The woman, who appeared uninjured but was taken to Forks Community Hospital to be checked, identified the man at his home, Cameron said.
He said the sheriff’s office was trying to remove the submerged car from the river to ensure that no one else was inside.
Cameron said the car likely either popped out of gear and drove into the river while the man and woman were parked under the U.S. Highway 101 bridge or that the rising river surrounded their vehicle.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
