SAR teams rescue man stranded on snowy back road

Washington County Search and Rescue respond to a truck stuck in snow in the Motoqua area, Utah, Jan. 3, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Mike Thomas, St. George News

MOTOQUA — A man was rescued by Washington County Search and Rescue Saturday evening after his truck got stuck in snow on a back road in the Motoqua area.

Around 8 p.m., a man driving a full-sized Toyota pickup truck was exploring when he got stuck in snow on a back road off Old Highway 91, Washington County Search and Rescue Commander Mike Thomas said. After walking about a mile to get cellphone service, the man was able to call 911.

Washington County Search and Rescue respond to a truck stuck in snow in the Motoqua area, Utah, Jan. 3, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Mike Thomas, St. George News
Washington County Search and Rescue respond to a truck stuck in snow in the Motoqua area, Utah, Jan. 3, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Mike Thomas, St. George News

“We were able to get the GPS coordinates when he called through the 911 system,” Thomas said. “We knew the area and it matched the man’s description of the area.”

The area is in the middle of the mountains and it’s easy to get lost, Thomas said, so the man was asked to walk back to his truck and stay there.

Two search and rescue teams responded to the area. One team followed the man’s tracks in from the west side of the road and the other team led by Thomas came in from the east side by Enterprise Reservoir.

“When there’s snow, you never know what you’re going to find,” Thomas said.

The man was located in his truck around 10 p.m. He had food, water, warm clothes and a full tank of gas.

Snow drifts from the wind made the top layer of snow crusty and hard to break through once the truck got stuck, Thomas said. After crews hooked the vehicle up and pulled it out and up the hill, the man was able to drive his truck out, he said.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by responders on scene and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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4 Comments

  • Ken Carlton January 4, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    Thank you to all the volunteers that help make our community a better place to live.

  • ladybugavenger January 4, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    These people are awesome life savers. Thank you and your families for your service.

    • sue January 5, 2015 at 7:42 pm

      Ladybug this is the first comment of yours that I have read that hasn’t been negative or offensive. On behalf of the SAR and all First Responders, Thank YOU!

  • M and M cookies January 6, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Just because the snow isn,t deep and you have a big truck you can still get stuck,,,who is out at 10pm on a back road in winter????my boyfriend just got a new Toyota truck loaded, but I said I would nit how out in winter on back roads, he was lucky he got reception after walking a mile. That rte 91has no reception..your out there with Mother Nature, Indians and no Wendy,s..

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