PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Police are searching for a man who went missing in Moraine State Park Friday night.

The man, 52-year-old Brian Cornetti of Prospect, was last seen Friday around 10 p.m. when he took his boat out on Lake Arthur.

Cornetti was navigating his small boat around the lake to hunt raccoons, according to authorities. Park officials say he regularly visited the lake.

“He comes to Moraine hunting quite a bit here,” Park Manger Dan Bickel said.

It’s suspected that Cornetti’s boat may have drifted away and went in after it, ultimately drowning. The empty boat was found out on the lake, with his belongings, including a life jacket.

Cornetti’s truck was still parked at the dock where he left it, which prompted the investigation.

Coincidentally, a new state law goes into effect Nov. 1 requiring boaters in vessels 16 feet long or smaller to wear a life vest.

“That’s a challenge in this cold water, these conditions; people have to wear their jackets this time of year,” Bickel said. “It’s just a very dangerous situation to be around a lake and not have a life jacket on.”

Authorities are continuing to search for Cornetti and plan to bring in extra help, including a cadaver dog and sonar equipment from Greensburg. They are also searching the shoreline, in case he made it out of the lake.

Stay with KDKA for more information.

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