On Thursday, August 17th, 2023, the Gaston County Police Department was dispatched to a missing person call in reference to an 18-year-old that had been missing since Wednesday August 16th. North Carolina Park Rangers subsequently located the missing person’s vehicle at Crowders Mountain State Park and began searching the area. Park Rangers requested assistance from the Gaston County Police Drone Unit, Gaston Emergency Medical Services (GEMS), Gastonia Fire Department, and Gaston County Emergency Management.
A coordinated search of Crowders Mountain was conducted and, after a short time, County Police officers and Park Rangers were able to hear the missing person yelling out for help. The GCPD Drone Unit was able to pinpoint the exact location of the missing person, who was in a remote area of the mountain and in medical distress. The drone was able to guide rescue personnel in and allowed GEMS personnel to have eyes on the patient to determine a treatment and rescue plan. A successful rescue of the patient was conducted thanks to the joint efforts of all the agencies involved.
There is no further information to be released at this time.
Area where the missing person was located
Emergency personnel conducting rescue