ENTERPRISE – A single-vehicle accident occurred sometime last night near the Enterprise reservoir and has claimed at least one life apparently due to exposure to the elements. Reports indicate that a snowmobiler came upon a man attempting to hike out of the remote location this morning. Interagency mobile communications between emergency responders indicated that a female body was located midday, at which time Search and Rescue was called off around 1 p.m.
The Sheriff’s Department was only willing to offer a brief statement as the emergency is still being addressed:
“They had some pretty severe weather last night, so conditions are pretty bad,” Washington County Sheriff’s Officer Nate Abbott said. “We’re just trying to get in there and locate the vehicle and the persons involved.”
Agencies contacted have been unwilling or unavailable to comment with any detail throughout the afternoon. As this story goes to publication, the vehicle has not yet been located.
According to the National Weather Service, a snow front swept down over the state, and intensified as it moved south. Most reporting areas surrounding St. George received multiple inches of snow Tuesday night, and even more over the last few days. The area of the accident was one of the places hit the hardest, with snow levels reaching up to a foot.
Access to the area is extremely limited, so searching for and recovering the vehicle and people involved will take longer than it would with more favorable conditions.
Although the location is a very popular spot during summer months, it is not often frequented during the winter due to the limited access and extreme temperatures. Officials recommend avoiding this area in the winter, and staying informed on weather conditions and the risks involved, even in familiar areas.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2012, all rights reserved.
There is a better story about this … this morning. It has a more detailed description of what happened and where. From that story, it is apparent that only two people were involved. The car was located, and nobody is missing. They separated, and one of them survived, while the other one did not. A sad story. Always prepare for potential problems when driving anywhere in this region in the winter or the summer.
Ellipsis by editor.
Our follow up report to the developing story here:
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2012/12/20/kuzmanic-two-leave-vehicle-stuck-in-a-snowstorm-one-dies-one-survives/