OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Search teams and divers have so far found no trace of a 35-year-old Federal Way woman who floated into Lake Crescent on an inflatable raft on Memorial Day, but continued to search Thursday.
According to the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, Lena Lang was on an inflatable Pegasus raft west of Barnes Point on Lake Crescent at 5:35 p.m. Monday.
At 5:45 p.m., a friend called 9-1-1 to report that she was missing. Lang was wearing a two-piece black bathing suit.
“Winds began pushing Lena towards Barnes Point out of view of others in the water,” according to a press release. “Her overturned raft was last seen on the west side of Barnes Point.”
The raft has not been recovered and the park service has said investigators would like to talk to anyone who might have pulled it out of the lake.
Park rangers began to search by boat and with help from the U.S. Navy, which conducted an aerial search looking for any signs of the missing woman.
Search teams worked again Tuesday to try to find her and the U.S. Coast Guard provided air support.
On Wednesday, the Kitsap County Dive Team and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office joined the search.
Divers used an underwater sonar mapping device and remote operated vehicle to find the highest probability areas to search. The lake is more than 600 feet deep in areas and about 500 feet deep near the search area, officials said.
“They were out there yesterday with the dive team but they did not find anything, but they are continuing today [Thursday],” said Patte Danisiewicz, secretary to the superintendent on Olympic National Park.
“Divers were able to reach depths of 100 feet,” said acting Superintendent Lee Taylor. “We have requested a ROV with special equipment and two operators from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This technology will allow us to explore deeper into the lake waters.”
The National Park Service is asking anyone who visited the shores of Lake Crescent from Barnes Point to Fairholme on Monday between noon and 6 p.m. and who saw the use of a white unicorn inflatable raft to call or text the tip line at 888-653-0009.
Danisiewicz said that as of Thursday morning officials had received 64 tips, but “nothing conclusive.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at [email protected] dailynews.com.
