Yellowstone Scout Still Missing
Two white tennis shoes believed to belong to a 13-year-old Boy Scout were found in the fast-moving Yellowstone River, but Luke Sanburg is still missing and feared drowned.
National Park Service officials said a search would continue for a third day Monday. Observers were expected to man 24 observation points, which include bridges and high points along the river.
On Sunday, when the second tennis shoe was found, about 250 park personnel, family and church members and other volunteers were searching along the river's rugged banks for any sign of the missing teen.
The second tennis shoe was found in the same general area where its mate was found a day earlier but no other clothing was spotted, said Cheryl Matthews, Yellowstone National Park spokeswoman.
The missing teen, Luke Sanburg, of Helena, Mont., was pushing logs into the river with other Scouts on Friday when a log clipped his legs and knocked him into the river. He was last seen floating downstream with his head above water, floating toward a stretch of rapids, park officials said.
The tennis shoes, fitting the description of those worn by Luke, were found about five miles downstream from where he entered the river.
Sunday's search expanded north into Montana from a 14-mile section of the river between Knowles Falls and a bridge at Corwin Springs, Mont. Kayakers combed the river while park officials and volunteers focused on the banks, said Matthews. A helicopter also was used.
Officials said Sunday that the team of kayakers will now wait until high waters recede further — probably later in the week — before continuing their efforts.
Luke and six members of his troop were camping in the northern part of the park, about six miles from Gardiner, Mont., a park gateway. Three adults were with the boys.
The Yellowstone incident came just days after 11-year-old Scout Brennan Hawkins was found in good condition after spending four days wandering the Utah wilderness.