Published: January 28, 2008 09:36 am      

Authorities searching river for missing person

CLINTON — One person is missing after a late afternoon snowmobile ride on Sunday.

At 4:42 p.m. Sunday, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a report that a person had gone under the ice in the Mississippi River near Rock Creek Park. Upon arrival, emergency responders learned that a person had been riding a snowmobile over open water and had gone under.

The area the person was last seen is near the intersection of the Mississippi and Wapsipinicon rivers off of the main river channel. Emergency personnel initiated a search on the surface of the water and from the air. The search was called off at approximately 8 p.m. The deteriorating condition on the water in the search area became unsafe for emergency personnel in the water crafts. According to a press release, search efforts will resume when water conditions allow for safe access to the search area for emergency personnel.

The name of the missing person is being withheld until notification of the family is complete.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Low Moor, Camanche, Clinton, McCausland and Princeton fire departments, Camanche and Genesis ambulances, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton County Conservation Office and Med Force Helicopter.

The incident remains under investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.