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1:12 p.m. March 20, 2012
Dog teams, 30 searchers, and helicopter continue search for missing man in Smokies
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GATLINBURG, Tn -- Approximately 30 searchers, 3 tracking dog teams and a helicopter are being used to continue the search for Derek Joseph Leuking who was reported as missing on March 15. His vehicle was found on Saturday March 17 at 8:30 a.m. in the Newfound Gap Parking Area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Park trackers and search dog team are following up on a couple of potential clues that might help determine Leuking's route after leaving his vehicle. Other teams are expanding the areas being covered to include the overlooks along Newfound Gap Road and Clingmans Dome Road.
A helicopter from the North Carolina Highway Patrol is surveying the areas along Newfound Gap Road, and some of the trails that are accessed from the Newfound Gap Trailhead.
Search personnel are also being posted at some of the popular trailheads such as Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, Sugarlands Visitor Center and Clingmans Dome. These individuals will be handing out flyers in hopes that somebody coming out of the backcountry may have seen Leuking.
Published March 20, 2012
Previous Stories:
• Search scaled back for missing men in Smoky Mountains
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service searching for missing person
• Search party looking for man missing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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