Crews search on ground, in air for missing hiker in El Dorado County

The search intensified this week for a hiker who has been missing in El Dorado County. The Placer County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team has joined with El Dorado County Sheriff's officials in the search for Jason Coughran, who has been missing for one week. Coughran was last heard from when he was hiking in the Desolation Wildnerness area on May 25 at around 4 p.m. Now, teams are searching on land and from the air in the search for Coughran. Placer County crews deployed two K-9 search teams and 16 Type 1 SAR personnel with high-altitude expertise. These teams are equipped to operate in complex and challenging terrain. A Placer County Sheriff's Office Falcon 30 helicopter crew was assisting form the air and has the ability to hoist a person, if needed. Coughran is described as a 60-year-old white male, 6 feet 2 inches tall and about 150 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes and an athletic build; he may be wearing khaki shorts, though his clothing description is uncertain. Anyone who was hiking in the area on May 25 or who may have encountered Coughran is urged to call the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office at 530-621-6600 or 530-573-3051. Placer County officials say they are grateful to the search and rescue teams, aviation crews and everyone working towards a common goal: to bring Coughran home.