Air and ground crews search Trout Creek for missing 33-year-old man

TROUT CREEK — A major search is underway in Trout Creek in the Faulder area.

Penticton RCMP and search and rescue crews are looking for a 33-year-old man who was thrown from an ATV into the fast running waters on Saturday.

Police were called to a report of a man that had been thrown from an ATV and into Trout Creek shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday.

“The man was the passenger of an ATV being driven across a bridge at the 15 km mark of Princeton-Summerland Road, when the male driver lost control and the quad flipped over,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

“The passenger was thrown into the creek and was immediately swept away by the fast moving water.”

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Ground and air crews attended the scene Saturday and searched for the man until about 9 p.m.

“The RCMP helicopter was able to make two passes of the area prior to darkness, however they did not locate the man,” said Moskaluk.

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“With the existing light on Saturday evening, Penticton Search and Rescue completed a detailed search in the area along with the Police Service Dog. The ground search also yielded negative results for any sign of the man.”

Investigators are looking into whether alcohol consumption on the part of the quad operator may have been a factor.

“The driver was released from police custody on Saturday without charges,” said Moskaluk.

“As of 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, the man had not been located and may have drowned after being swept away.”

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