SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. — The search continues for a missing boy near Flaming Gorge but rescuers are now calling it a recovery mission after finding the seven-year-old’s father dead.
After reported missing from camp in the Firehole Creek/Sage Creek area of Green River north of Flaming Gorge, a search for a man and his boy was launched Friday night.
Sweetwater County deputies spotted an oil slick on the surface of the water and a dive team was deployed. Searchers found the submerged ATV and the body of a 34-year-old Rock Springs man trapped inside the vehicle. The ATV had plunged some 200 feet off a cliff and into the Green River.
The body of the boy has not been found.
After a Monday morning search of the water with negative results by their Marine Unit, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office this afternoon announced that they are bringing in an expert in side-scan sonar from Sublette County’s Tip Top Search and Rescue team.
“We have now canvassed the entire area by air, boat, vehicle and on foot over the last two days,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Deputy Jason Mower. “Our dive team is resupplying today after two days on the water, and we are meeting early tomorrow morning with everyone involved to coordinate continued search efforts.”
Mower cautioned against private search groups crowding the area, especially near the cliffs.
“We appreciate everyone’s intentions and efforts, but we generally discourage people from taking matters into their own hands. We would hate for some other accident to occur or someone else to get hurt. We are also bringing in a lot of different people and equipment, so it’s important that our team has the room needed to safely operate that equipment.”
