COWLITZ COUNTY, Wash. — An Army lieutenant was found dead after he apparently fell about 200 feet down a steep embankment in the Mount St. Helens area.
Brian Yang, a 1st lieutenant from the Joint Base Lewis McChord, is believed to have arrived to the area sometime between Sunday and Monday. His car was found parked at the Coldwater Trailhead on Monday night between 9-10 p.m.
On Wednesday afternoon, the sheriff's office announced a large search effort for Yang involving roughly 100 volunteer soldiers and other personnel. Aircrafts and drones were also set to be deployed, officials said.
Hours later, they announced just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, hikers in the Mt. Whittier area located on the north side of the mountain called 911 to report they'd found an unresponsive hiker on a ridge below them.
Rescuers responded and identified the hiker as Yang.
Officials said Yang, 25, was believed to have been training for an upcoming ultramarathon and described him as being in excellent physical condition.
His family has been notified of his death.
