11 a.m. update
FORKS — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office today identified the fisherman who went missing on Monday as David Hudson Jr., 21, a member of the Hoh tribe.
Hudson was fishing with his sister, Elva Hudson, 29, when their boat hit a log and capsized, Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole said.
Elva Hudson made it to the shore, but David Hudson could not be found after the boat turned over about 1 p.m. Monday.
The search was temporarily suspended over night and resumed early this morning, Nole said.
David Hudson is described as 5-feet-7-inches tall about 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
He was wearing boots, rain pants and a gray sweatshirt.
Anyone with information should phone the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 360-385-3831.
Earlier report:
FORKS — A Hoh tribal fisherman remained missing Monday night after the boat in which he was floating capsized hours earlier on the Hoh River in West Jefferson County.
The search for the 22-year-old officially unidentified fisherman was suspended at dark Monday and was set to resume this morning, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
The man was fishing with another man when the boat capsized, said Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole.
The land and air search stretched about three miles downstream from the Hoh River Resort — the area near U.S. Highway 101 where the men had been casting their nets, Nole said.
The other fisherman made it back to shore, but the man was swept away by the current at about 1 p.m., he said.
About 4 p.m., the boat was found and some footprints surrounded the area, but the footprints did not lead anywhere, and it was unclear to whom they belonged, Nole said.
“They had a ground search going, but it didn’t yield anything,” he said.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the search with assistance from Olympic National Park, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and a helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles.
Nole said he could not positively identify the man, so he declined to release a name or confirm one that had been rumored.
The Coast Guard helicopter from Port Angeles searched a 3-mile stretch of the river by air but did not find any signs of the missing man.
The river is a murky gray from recent rainfall, hindering the search.
West End Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Thomas could not be reached Monday night.
Hoh Tribal Chairwoman Maria Lopez declined to comment.
________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
