Search Suspended For Missing Lake Washington Boater

KIRKLAND, WA — Dive teams, marine units and helicopter crews briefly resumed the search for a missing skipper in Lake Washington Wednesday after an empty, 35-foot powerboat crashed near Juanita Bay Tuesday afternoon.

First responders found a person's keys and wallet inside the boat, but no other signs of its occupant, kicking off a multi-agency search around 3 p.m. Tuesday. That search was suspended two hours later, as night fell, and resumed Wednesday morning shortly before 10:30 a.m. The King County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday's search efforts were focused near Magnuson Park.

Later in the afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the search was suspended after rescue crews covered 55 square miles over 21 hours. According to the USCG, the Formula One jet boat was found bumping against a dock Tuesday running in neutral. Investigators said video at Kenmore Marina showed the vessel launching Tuesday morning with one person on board, and family told them the operator was headed for Blake Island.

"Suspending search efforts is always an extremely difficult decision," said Randy Corbett, with Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. "The areas of concern were highly saturated by Coast Guard members and multiple partner agencies. Without locating the person or signs of distress, we have chosen to suspend the search, pending further developments. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the missing."