Helene western NC | Deputy dies after truck goes into river in Macon County [Video]

MACON COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — A sheriff’s office in western North Carolina is mourning the loss of a deputy killed in a storm-related off-duty accident in Macon County.

According to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, a call was received Friday morning around 11:30 a.m. about a truck in the river on Fulton Road. Witnesses told officers they saw someone in the truck before it went underwater.

While investigating, officers were able to determine it was Jim Lau, a courthouse security officer. Lau hadn’t returned to work from lunch and his truck matched the description of the one seen in the river. A joint search that included swift-water rescue, a drone and other emergency agencies. The search was called off Friday at dusk and picked up Saturday morning.

The sheriff’s office said Lau’s body was found and recovered from the river shortly after the search started.

The sheriff’s office released this statement: “Jim was very liked and respected within our department. He …