On 04-03-21 the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office received information that volunteer searchers located what they believed to be a car in the Chehalis River. 

The searchers were looking for 45 year old Oakville resident Sabrina Cole.  Cole was reported missing and endangered to the Chehalis Tribal Police Department.  She had been last seen on March 20^th. The car was located down river from the Elma Gate Road West boat launch in Oakville.  

The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the location and were able to utilize an underwater camera to locate the vehicle in the river and confirm it was registered to Cole. 

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office dive team was contacted and they responded to the scene. Due to the water conditions and a lack of resources at that time they were unable to send divers into the river.

On 04-05-21 the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office dive team, Olympic Mountain Search and Rescue, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Chehalis Tribal Police, and the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s responded in an attempt to recover the vehicle. 

PCSO divers were able to attach tow lines to the vehicle and the vehicle was removed from the river.  Sadly, Sabrina Cole was located deceased in the vehicle. 

The Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office responded and family members have been notified.  We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Cole.   

The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office will work with the coroner’s office to determine a cause of death.  The Sheriff’s Office will also be working with the Chehalis Tribal Police Department to fully investigate this incident. 

If you have any information on this case please contact the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711.