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Contact: Deborah Turcotte, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Telephone: work (207) 287-6008 cell (207) 592-1164

Fax: (207) 287-6395

June 12, 2008

Maine Warden Service Suspends For The Night Search For Missing Boater

Mattawamkeag – The Maine Warden Service has suspended for the night the search for a missing boater on the Penobscot River near Mattawamkeag.

The boater, Wayne Crosby of East Millinocket, was fishing with his brother, Mark, and friend, Gilbert Chaloux, both of East Millinocket, below the Welden Dam at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, when the incident occurred.

Their boat was approximately 20 yards from the falls below the dam, which is located off Route 157, when its engine quit, according to Maine Warden Service Sgt. David Craven. The falls create a reverse hydraulic, and the force from it pulled the boat under the falls and back out again. Initial reports were that the men traveled over the dam, but that was NOT the case.

Mr. Chaloux was able to get out of the Penobscot River, find a home and call for emergency services. Mr. Mark Crosby was rescued after spending approximately an hour on a small patch of land on the river.

Thursday’s search yielded some items from the boat – paddles, a gas tank, seats and a cooler – but not Mr. Wayne Crosby or the boat itself, Sgt. Craven said.

“The river is wide there,” Sgt. Craven said. “There is a lot of current, a lot of boulders, and it is pretty treacherous. There is a lot of area to cover. We plan to continue with more divers in the morning.”

It is not known at this time if the men were wearing life jackets, according to Sgt. Craven, but life jackets were at the scene and it is believed that they were in the boat.

Assisting the Maine Warden Service in the search is Mark Crosby, the brother of the victim, and Florida Power and Light Energy. Sgt. Craven said Mr. Mark Crosby went onto the river with wardens today and showed the approximate location where the incident occurred. The wardens were able to release balloon-type floats into the water from that spot to assess the river’s flow.

Tonight, FP&L plans to slow the flow of the Penobscot River at Mattaseunk Dam in Mattawamkeag at approximately 9 p.m. to lessen the current downstream for tomorrow’s search, according to Sgt. Craven.

“Florida Power and Light has been very accommodating in this search,” Sgt. Craven said. “It takes about eight hours for a change in the water level, and the lower water will reduce the danger level to wardens and divers when they resume the search.”

The Maine Warden Service also is grateful to Billy D’s Place, a bikers’ club in Mattawamkeag, for offering their club as a command post and for providing food to the wardens.

“They’ve been great,” Sgt. Craven said. “It’s helped us out a lot.”

Friday morning’s search will originate from the location where the incident occurred and follow downstream. The Maine Warden Service Dive Team was able to locate a deep hole in the river in the approximate location that Mr. Mark Crosby showed the wardens, and Dive Team members will attempt to go into that hole in the morning. Ripples on the water make it more difficult.

Although it has been windy, the sunshine is aiding the search. When the wind isn’t blowing, the Maine Warden Service pilot in some of the flyovers is able to see rocks and even tires on the river’s bottom.

After the incident, Mr. Mark Crosby and Mr. Chaloux were treated at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln. Both have been released.

The search will resume at approximately 8 a.m. Friday.

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