UPDATE:
According to Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, missing Athol man Howard Coates spent almost three days pinned to a tree after crashing his ATV before he was located by a family on Sunday night.
The KCSO received a call of an ATV accident in the area of Pope Rd. and Kita Rd. as the family had been riding dirt bikes on a non-used trail and came across the accident.
Northern Lakes Fire and Sheriff Deputies responded to the scene and located the ATV off the roadway, with the 66-year-old Coates pinned against a tree and the ATV.
“It is believed he has been in this position since late Thursday night,” the KCSO said in a release.
Coates was airlifted by Life Flight to Kootenai Health, though his injuries were considered non life threatening.
The Sheriff’s Office says because the accident occurred off the road, it wasn’t visible from the road or air during searches.
Coates had been reported missing after last being seen Thursday evening wearing pajama bottoms and no shirt. He also didn’t have mediation with him for some medical problems he has.
“The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the members of the Kootenai County Sheriff Volunteer Search and Rescue unit, the Civil Air Patrol, Spokane County Air Unit and all the members of the public that assisted in search for Howard and provided tips,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE August 9, 7:45 pm:
ATHOL, Idaho – An Athol man remains missing after crews searched for him all day Friday.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and search and rescue along with Spokane County Air 1 and Civil Air Patrol have so far been unsuccessful finding 66-year-old Howard Coats.
Searchers will continue until dark then will resume the search Saturday at daylight. At this point, there is no information or clues where Coats may have gone, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Teams will continue to run ATV trails, roads and search from the air on Saturday.
