FORKS – A coordinated effort by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and La Push Police Department helped locate a missing 79-year-old man with dementia Monday evening, ensuring his safe return home.

Authorities received a report around 6:22 p.m. that the man had gone missing in the Three Rivers area near Forks. With temperatures below freezing and nightfall already set in, concerns for his safety were high.

Detective Fletcher and Officer Decker responded and used tracking technology from Project Lifesaver, a program designed to locate individuals with cognitive conditions. By 7 p.m., they found the man about 20 yards off a dirt road in a wooded area. He was confused and claimed to have been walking for hours but was uninjured.