Chelan County, WA – A search for a missing Entiat man ended tragically this week after crews located his vehicle submerged in the Columbia River, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said 24-year-old Justin Lasater was reported missing on December 3, 2025, after failing to show up for work. He was last seen by friends in Wenatchee the evening before. Deputies tracked his last known location to Highway 97A near Rocky Reach Dam, but initial searches along 97A North and Swakane Canyon did not locate him or his white Nissan Pathfinder.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, weather delays prevented an air search until Monday, December 8, when the department’s Air Support Unit located a white SUV in the Columbia River just north of milepost 211. Rescue swimmers from Chelan Fire Rescue confirmed the vehicle belonged to Lasater and that there was an occupant in the driver’s seat.
The driver was later positively identified as Justin Lasater. The Washington State Patrol has assumed control of the investigation, as the collision occurred on a state highway. The incident remains under investigation.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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