NEAH BAY — A deceased woman believed to be one of three people missing from a 15-foot recreational vessel has been located on the rocks near Neah Bay, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said.
A crew of three people from the King County area — two men and one woman believed to be between the ages of 62 and 68 — left Neah Bay on Wednesday and were expected to return that evening around 8 p.m. When they did not return, the Coast Guard began a search about 12:35 a.m. Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The vessel was located Thursday morning just east of Neah Bay, Coast Guard public affairs specialist Briana Carter said.
The individuals were not on board the vessel or in the immediate vicinity, Carter added.
The last reported sighting of the individuals was at 7:55 a.m. Wednesday morning, when the vessel departed Cape Resort, Carter said.
Deputies were dispatched a report of a deceased female about 2:07 p.m. Thursday. The vessel was located not far from the woman’s location, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Coast Guard crews from Station Neah Bay, Air Station Port Angeles, Air Station Astoria and Air Station Sacramento were expected to search both from the air and water until sundown, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Neah Bay police are helping with the search.
Anyone with information that may help the Coast Guard is asked to call the command center at 206-217-6001.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsluadailynews.com.
