Hikers discovered a crashed helicopter northeast of Meeker at around 6:50 a.m. Thursday after it was missing the day before, according to a news release from the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office.

Thomas Prenzlow, 59, of Meeker, died in the crash. Prenzlow was the only person on board the privately owned MD 500 helicopter, the sheriff’s office said.

At around 8:12 p.m. Wednesday, the Rio Blanco Communications Center was notified of a missing helicopter that had departed from the Meeker Airport earlier that morning and had not returned when expected.

“Upon receiving the report, Rio Blanco County initiated a cellphone trace and activated its Search and Rescue Coordinator,” the news release stated. “Aerial search efforts were conducted in coordination with Classic Air Medical, focusing on the areas identified through preliminary tracking and cell signal range.”

The helicopter was not located before nightfall despite the “extensive” search efforts, the news release adds.

The search continued at around 6 a.m. Thursday, with the support of Coulter Aviation — an aviation company located in Meeker — the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Classic Air Medical and family members who began hiking in the area of the suspected crash.

Hikers reported discovering the crash, which was later confirmed by Coulter Aviation around 6:50 a.m. The Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office and Meeker Fire Rescue were then dispatched to the scene.