Maritime Injury Lawyer Blog
The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a Tulalip Tribal Police Department Officer missing in the waters near Naval Station Everett on the Snohomish River.
Of the two crew members who went missing after their vessel capsized in rough waters, only one has been recovered.
At 8:48 p.m. Tuesday, Coast Guard in Puget Sound received notification from Officer Bernie Edge that a two-man crew had capsized their 26-foot work skiff. Officer Edge said that the vessel was heading out of the jetty when they reported the seas were rough and that they were taking water over the bow.
At 11:50 p.m. one survivor was recovered near Hat Island by a civilian vessel participating in the search. The survivor reported that he last saw his partner 30 minutes prior to being recovered. He was transported to emergency service technicians for medical care.
Navy Whidbey Island Search and Rescue located the capsized vessel submerged approximately 2 feet below the water line.
Multiple federal, state, local and Tribal crews searched for more than 22 hours. Crews involved in the search included:
Coast Guard Station Seattle;
Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles;
Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion;
Tulalip Tribal Police Department;
Navy Whidbey Island Search and Rescue;
Naval Station Everett Security Teams;
Everett Fire Department Marine Units ;
Everett Police Dive Units;
Snohomish County Sheriffs Department Marine Units;
Washington State Ferry Service;
Approximately 40 good Samaritan vessels from the Talulip Tribal Fishing Fleet
“The Coast Guard and our Navy, state, local and Tribal partners saturated the waters of the Snohomish River to locate the missing police officer, but, unfortunately we were not able to find him after an extensive search,” said Lt. Zachary Kearney, the Sector Puget Sound command duty officer. “The decision to suspend a search is one of the most difficult decisions the Coast Guard has to make. We search as if one of our own is missing. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the missing Tulalip Tribal officer.”
The search is suspended pending further developments. If anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of the Tulalip Tribal officer, please call Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001.
by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea.
Tom Evans is a SEATTLE MARITIME INJURY LAWYER handling all aspects of maritime injury at sea… including shore side situations.
Injury at Sea Seattle Maritime injury attorneys provide legal representation worldwide for injured fishermen, deckhands, officers, merchant mariners, factory trawlers, crabbers, ferry workers, longshore, all branches of the merchant marines, cruise ship, oil rig workers and recreational boater injuries. Also including longliners, deckhands, processor, factory workers (in the factory and on the trawler) coastguard licensed
They work with highly qualified marine safety investigators, naval experts, injury experts, Board-certified medical personnel and health care providers, physical capacities experts, and job experts, representing anyone injured at sea or in a maritime situation, to get compensation for present and future losses.