Family of man missing after vehicle went into Yukon River asks for help with search
CBC
The family of an Arizona man who remains missing after a vehicle went into the water near the Lewes River bridge south of Whitehorse is asking Yukoners to help search for their loved one.
Knate Osteno's family say they "have hope" after learning he may have escaped from the pickup truck that missed the blue bridge and slid into the Yukon River in the early hours of Monday morning. They're hopeful that Osteno may be alive and now lost somewhere in the woods.
They are asking anyone who can help with the ground search efforts to coordinate through Yukon Search and Rescue.
A specialized RCMP dive team from B.C. arrived on Wednesday to search underwater. Police have confirmed that Osteno was not found in the submerged vehicle.
Osteno was one of two men from Phoenix, Ariz., that were inside the pickup truck when it went into the water. RCMP said earlier that the other man escaped the vehicle and received medical treatment.
The truck was hauling a trailer of Volkswagen vehicles from Alaska to Arizona. Osteno's wife, Norine Mihajlovich, says Volkwagens are Osteno's "absolute passion."
Osteno's stepson Matthew Mihajlovich said Osteno travels all across the country finding Volkswagen vehicles to restore.
"So yeah, traveling to pick them up is nothing new for him, but this was his first trip bringing him down from Alaska," Matthew said.
Osteno was helping his friend Seth Jorganson transport the vehicles to Arizona.
"He is a person that is there to help people," said Osteno's step-daughter, Gabrielle Mihajlovich. "Everyone in the community knows that."
According to Osteno's family, Jorganson was driving the truck south on the Alaska Highway toward the Lewes River bridge early Monday morning when he saw headlights coming toward him. Dark and foggy conditions that morning made it difficult for Jorganson to see the road ahead of him. Osteno's family says the headlights appeared to Jorganson to be in the middle of the bridge and he swerved to avoid the oncoming vehicle. Next thing he knew, he was in the Yukon River and the cab was filling with water within seconds.
Osteno's family says Jorganson escaped the vehicle and swam to shore. He has since received medical treatment and remains in Canada at this time.
"We're very grateful that his [Osteno's] friend was able to get out," Mihajlovich said. "That's a large blessing."
Norine Mihajlovich hopes her husband was also able to escape and will be found. She calls Osteno a "fighter."
WARNING: This story contains distressing content, including racist, violent and antisemitic language.
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