Vermont State Police As the search for Lee Wiktorski continued Tuesday afternoon, the crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft spotted an anomaly on the ice of Lake Champlain near Orwell. The Vermont State Police Dive Team responded to the location with crews in airboats. Sonar picked up a target in the water, and divers deployed into the lake. Late Tuesday afternoon, the divers located a silver pickup truck matching the description of Mr. Wiktorski's vehicle submerged in about 22 feet of water. The vehicle was empty, and Mr. Wiktorski was not located.
Water currents in the area made the dive more difficult, and visibility was near zero.
First responders searched the surrounding area and shoreline, including with K-9s, but there were no signs of Mr. Wiktorski.
Facing deteriorating conditions including heavy snow, gusting winds and extremely limited visibility, search crews have suspended their efforts for the night. The search is expected to resume when conditions permit on Wednesday.
***Update No. 1, 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019***
Search efforts are continuing this afternoon on Lake Champlain near Orwell for missing ice fisherman Lee Wiktorski, including with the use of sonar by the Vermont State Police Dive Team.
State police are releasing the attached photographs of Mr. Wiktorski, a likeness of his truck, and search crews operating on the ice.
Police continue to ask that anyone with information call the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919.
***Initial news release, 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019***
The Vermont State Police are searching for a missing man who had been ice fishing on Lake Champlain near Orwell.
A concerned relative reported late Monday, Feb. 11, that Lee Wiktorski, 61, of Benson had been ice fishing on the lake and had not returned. A search effort overnight included multiple first responders on the ice in the vicinity of Singing Cedars Landing in Orwell and support from a helicopter crew from the U.S. Coast Guard based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Search crews discovered personal belongings of Mr. Wiktorski on the ice but no sign of him or his vehicle, a silver 2001 Dodge Dakota truck with Vermont registration 255A225.
Search efforts continued overnight, and Tuesday morning are expanding to include the Vermont State Police Dive Team and two airboats, along with an aircraft from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The search is active and ongoing at this time.
In addition to the above agencies, assisting in the search are Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife game wardens, Benson Fire/Ice Rescue, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Anyone with information about Mr. Wiktorski’s whereabouts is asked to call the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven at 802-388-4919.
Source: ORWELL, Vermont (Feb. 12, 2019) — VSP