GREENFIELD — A missing autistic teenager was found Wednesday morning on Leyden Road around 3 a.m. after a four-plus-hour search that involved the Fire Department and state police.
The Greenfield Police Department received a call from parents of the 18-year-old that he went missing around 10:30 p.m. At that point, the parents had already been searching for their son for multiple hours, Lt. Joseph Burge said.
The teenager had gone missing once before, the lieutenant said, but he returned to home that time.
The Fire Department was called in around 10:50 p.m. The department brought three engines, a Kubota all-wheel drive ATV-like vehicle and a utility truck. The police also brought dogs to help with the ground search. A helicopter was also brought in to assist.
“It started to get cold so you want to get as much manpower as possible,” Fire Department Lt. Keith Gamage said.
Around 25 to 30 people were involved in the search late Tuesday night into the early morning. Shelburne barracks were called in just past midnight. State trooper Scott Boutell would eventually find the teenager on a southern section of Leyden Road.
“I want to thank all the agencies for their tremendous support during that incident,” Burge said.
He also recommended that if someone goes missing to contact the police sooner rather than later.