Local

Search for man missing enters second day near Truckee after canoe overturns in Donner Lake

Missing person incident depicts emergency personnel in boat on water

One man was rescued but the search continues for a second man who went missing Wednesday after their canoe overturned in Donner Lake.

Truckee police officials described a “sustained heavy presence” of public safety personnel at the High Sierra lake after the craft carrying the two men turned over in the middle of the lake about 3:30 p.m. Multiple people called 911 to alert dispatchers of the overturned canoe in the middle of the lake, about 98 miles northeast of Sacramento.

Police said neither man was wearing a life jacket when the canoe tipped.

A nearby windsurfer was able to pluck one of the men from the lake. The man’s condition was not known Thursday.

But Truckee police say the multi-agency operation for the second man is now a recovery effort after Calstar and California Highway Patrol searchers in the skies along with boat and dive teams in the water worked into the night Wednesday.

Searchers suspended their operation because of darkness before efforts began anew Thursday morning.

Search teams from Nevada, Placer and Yolo County sheriff’s offices, along with Nevada County Search and Rescue and canine searchers from California Rescue Dog Association are working to find the missing man.

Authorities asked people to stay away from the area of the Donner Lake boat launch Thursday as the search effort continued.

Darrell Smith
The Sacramento Bee
Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW