Divers in day 4 of search for missing fisherman at Prince Gallitzin State Park

June 2024 · 2 minute read

GLENDALE, Pa. -- The search for a missing fisherman is now into day four at Prince Gallitzin State Park. Park officials said the boat of a 67-year-old man came up empty Friday near the Beaver Valley Marina.

Divers and recovery teams from across the region searched the 1,600-acre lake all day Monday. Rafts and pontoon boats were filled with people searching the water and shoreline but, so far, they’ve yet to find that missing man.

Park manager Jessica Lavelua said the divers are searching a larger area under the water and working to rule out any area where the victim may be.

Officials said they found the man’s boat with all the life jackets in it and the motor still on and in neutral. After speaking with his family, park officials said they learned the man

never wore a life jacket and didn't know how to swim.

In the meantime, park officials say they were able to look at his boat which had a fish finder and GPS tracker inside. They said they've used it to help track the route he was taking Friday and target where he could have fallen off into the water.

“During the course of his fishing trip, he [traveled] a lot of the lake which is 1600 acres. We can tell there were a lot of signs he was on the boat, operating it and moving it,” Lavelua said. “We are focusing a lot of our efforts around Beaver Valley Marina area because that's where we strongly believe we will find him.”

Park officials said divers are facing challenges getting around a lot of debris at the bottom of the lake which is slowing the process down, but they say it's not a challenge they can't overcome.

Stay with 6 news on-air and online for the latest on this developing story.

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