COAST GUARD UPDATE:
ASTORIA, Ore. – The Coast Guard is searching for two missing fishermen two miles south of Yachats.
Bill Vodewick, 62, and Nick Lutz, 23, both from the local area, were reported missing late Wednesday night to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
An HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Facility Newport searched at first light and discovered a fishing pole and two backpacks in the area the fishermen were last reported at.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office personnel are currently conducting a ground search of the area.
Vodewick was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black jacket. Lutz was last seen in camouflage hip waders and a camouflage jacket. The vehicle of the two fishermen was located in the area.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the missing men should contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 997-8472 or Coast Guard Group North Bend at (541) 756-9210.
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Yachats (KMTR) – A search team from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard are searching for two missing fishermen along the Oregon coast.
According to the Coast Guard, the fishermen disappeared somewhere near Stonefield Beach Wayside, about five miles south of Yachats.
They vanished sometime around 11 p.m. Wednesday night.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office contacted the Coast Guard to request a helicopter to search the area. However, the Coast Guard said the winds and seas were too choppy to fly in that area.
A search crew planned to resume the search at first light, and the Coast Guard says it is possible they could send a chopper later in the morning.
