POUGHKEEPSIE – The search
in the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie for a man missing for three days
continued Thursday, but by mid-afternoon, authorities called off the underwater
search.
Paul Moschitta, 49, of Poughkeepsie went into the river near Waryas Park
on Tuesday when one of five other men, who were swimming, appeared to
be in distress.
Moschitta went under the water and never resurfaced, according to witnesses
at the time.
Since then, divers and patrol boats from the Dutchess and Ulster County
Sheriff’s Offices, State Police and Coast Guard have been searching
the murky Hudson for any signs of the missing man. Effective Friday, the
search will be strictly on the surface; however, police will continue
to use sonar technology.
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Lt. Shawn Castano said the tidal waters
of the Hudson River Estuary, the contours of the river’s bottom
and various underwater obstructions all impact the currents and make every
underwater search mission “a unique challenge” for the search
teams.
One diver said after coming out of the water that some areas of the river
as so murky and dark, that there is zero visibility.
The searches are expected to last until Sunday.
