High Water Hinders The Search For Trucker

Floodwaters were hampering the search for a Montana man missing in the Clark Fork River, the Bonner County sheriff’s office said Thursday.

Law enforcement officers believe Brandon Lee Short, 39, of Heron, Mont., fell into the river Wednesday when he tried to cross a private wooden bridge in a dump truck loaded with dirt.

The bridge partially collapsed, causing the truck to fall into the river, the Idaho State Police said. The driver is feared dead.

Undersheriff Nick Krager said the river is running several feet above flood stage, at up to 18 mph, hampering the efforts of divers and other searchers.

“We’re pretty sure he is in the river,” Krager said.

It appeared the truck was too heavy for the bridge, he said.

The accident occurred as Short was hauling dirt to reinforce the flood-damaged shoreline of a small island in the river where six homes are located, the state police said.