Harford, Montgomery Officers Track Missing Man to Vehicle in Creek

A 72-year-old who got lost on the way home from a doctor's appointment in Montgomery County ended up submerged in his vehicle near the Bush River, where authorities say he was rescued from hypothermia.

Shing Wong, of the 700 block of Brandon Green Drive in Silver Spring, left home Wednesday morning in his 1997 Honda Accord for a doctor's appointment in Wheaton and failed to return; when his wife told police at 8:40 p.m., a silver alert went out to help find him.

Authorities tried to geolocate Wong using his cell phone, and Montgomery County police provided this account of how the search unfolded:

• 10 p.m.—Wong’s phone was showing in the general area of the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
• 11 p.m.—Wong told his wife he was in the water, his car battery had died and he was unable to get out of his vehicle. He said he was near or under a wooden bridge, and water was up to his waist. His phone battery was dying.
• 12:30 a.m.—Wong answered a call from his wife but did not talk. Officers received another signal from Wong’s phone indicating it was in the area 3.5 miles north of the original signal and was in the area of the Bush River.

Using geographic, hydrographic and satellite data, officials identified possible search areas, and it was in that space where Harford County sheriff's deputies and Montgomery County police found Wong in his vehicle, police said.

Water was up to the windows, and Wong was "cold, disoriented and stated that he could not move," according to a statement from police, which said he was in a creek at the end of Perry Drive that flows into the Bush River where the water temperature was 52 degrees.

Montgomery County Police Officer Jason Huggins, who coordinated the search, removed Wong from his vehicle and carried him to emergency medical providers from Harford County, according to police. Then Wong was taken to an area hospital, where officials said he was treated for hypothermia.

Assisting in the search were the Maryland State Police helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard, Montgomery County Police Department, Harford County Sheriff's Office and Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire and Rescue.

Photo Credit: Montgomery County Police Department.