Sabaratnam was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a two-car collision near the 46-mile marker on Saddle Road in the morning of November 27. After the accident, he reportedly got out of the car and was last seen walking away from the scene with his dog. But Sabaratnam wasn't reported missing until December 1, 1998. Using the county helicopter, police and fire personnel thoroughly searched the Waikii area, but failed to turn up any sign of the missing man.