Rescuers in an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is at left in the boat. In front is Knoxville Police Department search and rescue volunteer Candy Stooksbury with K-9 Barnabas, a bloodhound. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 p.m.
CLAXTON—Rescuers searched for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton on Sunday afternoon and evening, but they were not able to locate him.
The search was called off as daylight faded just before 7 p.m. Sunday, more than six hours after the missing man’s pickup truck was located near the park. It’s not clear when the search might resume.
The missing man is reported to be from Knox County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. The identity of the man, reported to be 66, was not immediately available Sunday.
Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said the man left his black pickup truck on the side of road across Bull Run Creek from Bull Run Park, The keys were in the truck, and a suicide note was in the truck, White said. The vehicle was parked alongside New Henderson Road at Tracy Allison Lane.
But rescuers aren’t certain that the man is in the water, White said.
“We’re hunting a needle in a haystack right now,” said White, who was among those on rescue boats searching the cold water. “We don’t know where he’s at or if he’s here.”
Rescuers searched the bottom of the water, which was moving swiftly. The creek is wide like a lake at Bull Run Park, and it appears to be swollen with brushy debris and muddy brown floodwater from recent rains.
Nobody knows if the man went in the water, White said. He was reported missing this morning in Knox County.
Lucas said the missing man’s vehicle was found near Bull Run Park around 12:45 p.m. Sunday.
Among the agencies that responded to help search the water with boats, dive teams, and people were the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Anderson County Volunteer Rescue Squad. The Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad also responded with boats and a crew.
There was also a search and rescue volunteer from the Knoxville Police Department with a bloodhound dog, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was reported to have responded Sunday afternoon.
Anderson County EMS was also stationed at Bull Run Park during the search.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Oak Ridge Today reader Kevin Rice helped with the initial information about this search.
Rescuers in an Anderson County Rescue Squad boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. At center is Rescue Squad Chief Terry Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad helps search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. An Anderson County Sheriff’s Department boat is in left background. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Rescuers in an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is at right in the boat. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Rescuers in an Anderson County Rescue Squad boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. At center is Rescue Squad Chief Terry Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad helps search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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