After nearly twelve hours of side-sonar scanning by experts with Sublette County’s Tip Top Search and Rescue team and several follow-up dive attempts by volunteers from the Sweetwater County Dive Team, a body matching the description of the 7-year-old ATV crash victim, who was reported missing along with his father on late Friday night, was recovered this evening in the Big Firehole Canyon area of the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir, according to Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
The body of the boy’s 34-year-old father was recovered midday on August 8th, after an oil slick and debris were discovered floating on the surface of the water below an estimated two-hundred-foot cliff. Divers located and recovered from the water a submerged all-terrain vehicle along with the father’s body inside the vehicle.
After a Monday morning search of the water with negative results by their marine unit, SCSO enlisted the help of side-scan sonar experts from Sublette County’s Tip Top Search and Rescue team.
“Early Tuesday morning, we deployed maritime assets from Tip Top and our Marine Unit, volunteers from our dive team, and several communications and support elements on the ground from the sheriff’s office. At times throughout the day, wind and diving conditions were less than ideal, but everyone was focused on the same thing. It’s a tragic situation, but we’re just grateful to have located this child,” said SCSO spokesperson Deputy Jason Mower.
Sheriff John Grossnickle said, “Some times horrific and unexplainable things happen to otherwise good people who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our hearts hurt for this family, but we find some solace in being able to provide them with the closure that they deserve. This would not have been possible without the help and cooperation of everyone involved.”