Family of man missing after vehicle went into Yukon River asks for help with search
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.
One of the most recent photos of Knate Osteno and Seth Jorganson on their trip from Alaska to Arizona. Osteno's family say he was likely wearing the same clothing at the time of the accident. (Submitted by Matthew Mihajlovich)
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."
Osteno with his wife Noreen Mihajlovich and his stepdaughter Gabrielle Mihajlovich. The Mihajlovichs are asking community members who can help with ground search efforts to coordinate through Yukon Search and Rescue. (Submitted by Matthew Mihajlovich)
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."
"I know my husband, he won't stop. He is definitely a survivalist," she said.
"I know it's not a huge community, but the more people that can help… get out there on foot, or people have thermal drones they could donate to the RCMP to get a bigger search area going," Norine said. "He might leave signs…so please look for those little things that you wouldn't normally look for."
Osteno's stepdaughter says the family is "grateful" for the support they've received from the local community.
"These people in the community have really been a blessing to us, so much," Gabrielle said.
"There are people who don't even know our last names, who have been calling us, who have been praying, who have been giving us updates."
