Man could be missing in fork of Payette River. Vehicle found down embankment
Law enforcement has asked the public to help locate a man who was last seen near Garden Valley. He is possibly the second person to go missing in one of the Payette River forks this week.
John Barmettler, 67, was last seen Monday at a residence on South Fork Road, east of Garden Valley, and was believed to have been heading to his home from there, the Boise County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
Kayakers contacted law enforcement after spotting Barmettler’s vehicle down a steep embankment on South Fork Road, close to the South Fork of the Payette River, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Responding deputies did not find anyone inside the vehicle. Law enforcement expressed concern that Barmettler may have gone into the river.
“Barmettler may have medical conditions that would make it difficult for him to climb out of the canyon on his own,” the online post read. “We are hopeful that someone may have encountered Barmettler and assisted him after the crash. At this time, however, area hospitals have no record of him as a patient.”
The Sheriff’s Office said deputies spent most of Tuesday recovering the vehicle and searching the surrounding area.
Anyone who has seen or heard from Barmettler since Monday has been asked to contact the Boise County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 208-392-4411.
Law enforcement continues to search for a 40-year-old man from Billings, Montana, whose vehicle crashed into the river’s North Fork on Sunday. The vehicle was recovered.
