Search called off for man who jumps off Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry
Published 2:30 pm Friday, August 19, 2016
COUPEVILLE — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a man who went overboard on the MV Kennewick near Whidbey Island Thursday night.
Security tapes showed a man going overboard the ferry at 9:22 p.m., eight minutes after departure from Whidbey Island.
Officials believe the man is an 81-year-old from Poulsbo whose name hasn’t yet been released. He was last seen wearing a t-shirt and light pants.
Coast Guard air and boat crews and local agencies searched the area near Whidbey Island for about 12 hours, covering a 300-mile radius.
When the ferry debarked in Port Townsend, security found a vehicle abandoned aboard the ferry with a man’s wallet and a suicide note inside, according to the Coast Guard.
Assisting in the search were Coast Guard Cutter Osprey crewmembers, a Coast Guard Station Port Angeles boat crew, a Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles air crew, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island personal and a crew with East Jefferson Fire Rescue.
Anyone with information on the person in the water is requested to contact Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001.
________
Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5550, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
