Newberg Man Feared Missing in River

The search will resume again at 9:00 a.m. Monday mornin

Willamette River

(Newberg, Oregon) - A Newberg man is missing, and a search is underway in the Willamette River near Dayton.

According to Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree, the investigation began when boaters reported an unusual incident on Friday. “At about 10:23 am on November 26th, my Deputies and Newberg Fire Department Dive / Rescue Team both received a call that a boat may have sunk in the Willamette River near Westin Landing and Mallard Lane” Crabtree said.

“A boater reported that he and his son observed a male subject who appeared to be struggling for several minutes with his bow anchor on a small aluminum boat. After going ashore for a walk, the pair heard a person in distress calling from the river. Running to the riverbank, the man saw only lifejackets, water bottles and debris floating in the area where the boat had been seen.”

Crabtree said that a pickup truck and boat trailer associated with Kevin Troy Williamson, 49 of Newberg was later found at San Salvador boat ramp, near where the incident had occurred. Williamson’s family members said that he had left Friday morning to go fishing, and has not been seen since.

Searchers including the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, Newberg Fire and Rescue dive team, Fire Departments from Newberg, Dundee, Dayton and St. Paul, along with Marine Patrol Deputies from Clackamas, Marion and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Offices have assisted in the search Friday, Saturday and Sunday using sonar technology and specially trained search dogs.

The search will resume again at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Steve Warden at 503 434-7506.

News Release from: Yamhill Co. Sheriff's Office