Search for Kernville man continues


Published on Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:17 PM PST

Cathy Perfect/Kern Valley Sun

An early morning accident in the Kern Canyon Wednesday has Kern Valley Search and Rescue and Bakersfield Swift Water Rescue Teams searching for the driver, believed to be 51-year-old Kernville resident Mark Roberts, a Kern County Sheriff's Department news release said.

Roberts' white Ford pick up truck reportedly left the roadway near mile maker 17 in the Kern Canyon shortly after 7:00 a.m., Feb. 15, and landed about 50 to 75 feet down, wedged on a rock, according to California Highway Patrol reports.

Mark Roberts

CHP Officer Brad Everett reportedly described Roberts' vehicle as being found empty and in park with the keys missing.

Roberts' battered vehicle was retrieved and loaded onto a tow truck about 8:45 a.m., causing a temporary closure of Hwy 178.

Around 1:30 p.m., the CHP requested the help of Search and Rescue teams in searching for Roberts.

Two-person teams were deployed and searched the canyon side and river bank, using probes at the river's edge, in an effort to locate Roberts.

The search was suspended due to darkness and the rugged terrain being searched, the news release said.

“Our Search and Rescue team will be back up in the canyon looking for him after 9:00 a.m. Thursday,” KCSO spokesman Sgt. Ray Pruitt said.

Copyright © 2012 Kern Valley Sun

Comments

5 comment(s)

    Whatever wrote on Feb 21, 2012 8:56 PM:

    " For all the warning signs they put up about the dangers of swimming in the river; they need a few for that road! I've seen so many wrecks on that road; and we've lost so many lives. And how many of us have come around a corner to discover someone in our lane coming the other way or rock or a cow? I'm so sorry to this man's family such a hard loss! Lets slow down, use the pull-outs, be aware, and remember that two minutes isn't worth risking your neck. "

    Sonya wrote on Feb 20, 2012 10:00 AM:

    " If anyone I love or know ever goes missing again I certainly wont hold my breath for the authorities to help save their life. "

    Sonya wrote on Feb 20, 2012 9:57 AM:

    " Why wasnt the search for this man called in sooner? I was in Shell at 2:50 pm when I overheard the owner get the call to assemble a team. Not 1:30. Perhaps if they started before there were only 2 hours in the day left they could have called in other reinforcements sooner. Maybe it would have been too late for Mark but it could have spared his wife of four days of agony and not knowing where her husband was. I'm extremely disheartened by this and sorely disappointed in the CHP on scene. "

    Local Prayers wrote on Feb 17, 2012 11:50 AM:

    " Thoughts and prayers are with this man and his family... "

    theresa family wrote on Feb 17, 2012 11:28 AM:

    " praying the find this man so very said hope hes alright. "

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