The Macon County Sheriff’s Office recently announced that on Sept. 27 at 11:30 A.M., a 911 call came in about truck in the Cullasaja River on Fulton Road, with witnesses saying they saw someone in truck before it went underwater.
It was soon realized that one of MCSO’s courthouse security officers, Jim Lau, hadn’t returned to work from lunch and his truck matched the description of the truck that was seen in the river.
A search effort was initiated that afternoon by multiple emergency service agencies; an on-foot search, drone search and multiple swift-water rescue teams were called in.
Ultimately the search was put on hold when the sun began to set. The search began early in the morning on Sept. 28, and Lau’s body was found and recovered from the river shortly after the search began.
NC State Highway patrol is the investigating agency for this event, and it is an ongoing investigation.
Lau was very well liked and respected within MCSO’s department. He was known to be a hard worker, dependable, and he jumped in wherever help was needed. MCSO said his absence will truly be felt in their agency.
They ask for prayers for his family and loved ones, and for prayers for MCSO, and to continue to pray for Western North Carolina as a whole; the tragedy that surrounds our mountain communities is unimaginable.
Tragic and sad.