Press Releases

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 14, 2008

Maine Warden Service Scales Back Search For Missing Boater

Mattawamkeag – The Maine Warden Service is scaling back its 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 Jr., both of East Millinocket, below the Weldon 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 information given to the Maine Warden Service. 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.

An all-day search on Friday yielded the men's boat, and the Maine Warden Service suspended its search for the night at approximately 6 p.m.

Upon receipt of an aerial photograph from an independent search group last night, which the group said showed a "point of interest," the Maine Warden Service Dive Team returned to the Penobscot River this morning to search that specific area.

According the MWS divers, sometimes aerial photographs can be unclear.

"Unfortunately, after a thorough, exhaustive search of the area by the Dive Team, the 'point of interest' shown in the photo was a stump," said Warden Mike Joy. "Our sympathies go out to Mr. Crosby's family."

Along with the divers, a Maine Warden Service pilot flew rotations over the Penobscot River for three hours Saturday morning.

Florida Power and Light, operators of the Mattaseunk Dam, were expected to begin increasing the flow of water over the dam this afternoon. FPL had reduced the flow on Thursday to assist the Maine Warden Service in the search.

The Maine Warden Service will continue to search the river by boat, and will run routes by air. The Dive Team will not be at the scene.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

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