BRINNON — Jefferson County officials rescued a woman who went searching for a hiker reported missing on Memorial Day after she became stranded attempting to cross the Duckabush River.
The woman, whose name hasn’t been released, was taken to Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend on Wednesday after she suffered a leg injury and hypothermia while attempting to cross the river. The woman and another individual went looking for Joshua Guerrier, the hiker who remains missing, and were overwhelmed by the currents and temperatures of the river, Brinnon Fire Department Chief Tim Manly said.
The woman got herself out of the river but needed to be rescued due to her injuries, Manly said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Brett Anglin said Thursday drones were searching the river for Guerrier at sporadic times and that no other searches are currently planned.
Guerrier, 28, of Olympia has been described as Black, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing 220 pounds and wearing a beard. He was reported missing Monday after hikers discovered a pile of clothes, a tethered dog and a cell phone near the Ranger Hole Trailhead on the Duckabush River.
Manly said independent searches are highly discouraged. Everything that can be done to find Guerrier is being performed by search and rescue teams, he said.
“She put herself at risk and in danger and pulled crews off the original search,” Manly said. “If the public is needed, we will ask.”
The woman is believed to be an acquaintance of Guerrier’s from Olympia.
Officials from Jefferson, Clallam and Island counties conducted a search by foot, helicopter and drone Monday afternoon, and on Tuesday, kayak and diver crews searched the Duckabush River.
A missing person notice was released for Guerrier on Tuesday afternoon. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Anglin at banglin@co.jefferson.wa.us or 360-344-9762.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
