Sheriffs, CHP search by air, ground for man in crash

A police helicopter and an airplane, joined by eight police ground patrol units, were still combing the rural Geyserville area at noon today, trying to locate a man who crashed just before 8 a.m. on his way to River Rock Casino.

"We're using Google maps and satellite technology to try to find him, but unfortunately he doesn't have a GPS phone," said California Highway Patrol Lt. Jeff Rhea. "We're making another sweep right now, trying to widen the search to the west."

Rhea said a CHP fixed-wing airplane and a Sonoma County Sheriff's helicopter, "Henry I,"  were trying to track the man's whereabouts, along with patrol cars on the country roads and highways. Rhea said the man was in contact with CHP dispatchers via cell phone but it was "intermittent," he said.

"We're doing all we can to locate him," Rhea said. "It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack."

Rhea said the man, whose name was not immediately available, called 9-1-1 at about 7:40 a.m. Sunday, saying that he was confused by the foggy conditions and went off the road into a ravine.

"He got disoriented and lost," Rhea said.

Rhea said he was waiting for a call back from the the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue unit for assistance.