Crews search for oyster company employee,70, missing in Tomales Bay

TOMALES BAY, Calif. (BCN/KTVU) - Crews are searching for a missing boater whose unmanned motorboat was located in Tomales Bay Tuesday, according to officials with the Marin County Fire Department. The boater has been partially identified as 70-year-old Charles "Tod" Friend of Oakland who is employed by the Tomales Bay Oyster Company.

The man was reported missing at about 3:15 p.m., after fire officials received an emergency call from an employee at the Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall. The employee said their boat was near the boat that was being operated by the missing man. Operators on the Hog Island Oyster Company boat said they looked back and saw the Tomales Bay Oyster Company boat going in circles.

Rescue crews were able to recover the missing man's motorboat. Using rescue watercrafts and helicopters, personnel with the fire department, the Marin County Sheriff's Office, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and the California Highway Patrol have responded.

KTVU's Alex Savidge contributed to this report.