The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Police

Report for SCSO and WSP

March 12, 2013

The search for a possible missing hiker was suspended as of dark Monday evening, March 11, north of North Bonneville.

"We have not received any credible physical evidence from the field that would indicate that we have anyone out there in the area at this time," said Undersheriff Dave Cox. "We have placed a great deal of resources into a very hazardous area and have come up with absolutely nothing. We have not received any overdue subject reports, we have no unattended vehicles, we have not had any employer call in to report an employee that had not reported to work, nothing."

Search efforts Monday involved approximately 30 searchers that combed the two-square mile search area south of Table Mountain in southern Skamania County.

"If we have credible information in the future that would lead us to believe otherwise, we will certainly take that into consideration for a possible search at a later date," Cox said. "Our first concern is for the safety of our search teams, and as weather moves in, and with the terrain we are asking them to work in, combined with the lack of physical evidence, the search will be terminated this evening at dark."

The search for the possible missing hiker continued Monday. The Skamania County Sheriff's Office received a report from a hiker about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday night that he had heard a man yelling for help near the top of Table Mountain in southern Skamania County.

Deputies searched the immediate area Saturday night, and Sunday morning. More than 30 searchers combed the area where the voice was last heard at about the 3200 foot level of Table Mountain.

Ground fog had eliminated the possibility of air support as of Monday morning. "We are hoping that as the morning progresses we will have some clearing and be able to bring in air support for this operation," Cox said.

At this time, there have been no overdue persons reported in the area. A check of the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort reported no unaccounted for guests as of Monday morning.

The location of the SAR Command Base is just south of Bonneville Hot Springs Resort at the power line road.

A White Salmon resident was injured in a one-vehicle accident on Monday, March 11, 2013, at approximately 6:14 a.m. The accident occurred on State Route 14 at milepost 56, 11 miles east of Stevenson.

According to the report, Crystara S. Talkington, 19, was driving her 1999 Toyota Camry eastbound on SR 14. Talkington fell asleep. Her car drifted south, traveling through the gravel shoulder. The vehicle then impacted and drove over a pile of metal/gravel debris belonging to Burlington Northern. The car then made contact with loose rails, overturned and came to rest on its top.

Talkington was transported to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon.

She was charged with negligent driving.