Man found dead in water near highway after vanishing during hike, Oregon deputies say

A 75-year-old man went to run errands and go on a short hike, but he never returned, Oregon deputies said.

The 75-year-old man planned to go on a hike Tuesday, Sept. 6, near Cottage Grove, about 20 miles south of Eugene, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said. Shortly after 7 p.m., deputies got a call that the man was missing.

Search-and-rescue teams started scouring the area into the night, the sheriff’s office said. The next morning, deputies received a call that a car was found in water near Aufderheide Highway.

“A deceased male was located in the water a short distance from the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said in a Sept. 7 news release. “Deputies arrived and confirmed that the vehicle and deceased person were those from the missing hiker call.”

Deputies did not disclose the man’s identity. Investigators did not find any initial signs of foul play.

This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Man found dead in water near highway after vanishing during hike, Oregon deputies say."