The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office now says a missing Boise man and his pickup truck may have gone off the highway north of Riggins -- and could now be submerged in the Salmon River.
On Sunday, a citizen reported to the Sheriff’s Office that he had found a license plate belonging to a truck owned by John “Randy” French, 54, of Boise. The plate was found near milepost 201.5 on U.S. Highway 95, near the Salmon River, according to an Idaho County Sheriff’s Office news release.
French was last seen in Boise on Thursday, June 29th, when he left to go fishing near Riggins. He was expected to return home on July 1st, but never did.
“Idaho County deputies confirmed the information (regarding the license plate), and it is believed Mr. French and his vehicle lie beneath the water near that location,” the release said. “At this time, water conditions prevent an attempt to recover the victim and his vehicle. The dive team has estimated it will be approximately thirty days before the water conditions are safe enough for divers to enter the water to locate the vehicle.”
One of French’s medical items was located Friday, along the banks of the Salmon River. French’s family confirmed the item was his.
French was driving a Maroon 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup with Idaho license plate 9435D.
The last place French was known to be was in the Salmon Rapids Lodge parking lot in Riggins on June 29th. Reports say French was making plans for fishing the next day, but was gone the next morning prior to the arranged trip.
