CEDAR CITY — Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue brought four people down the mountain after their all-terrain vehicle broke down, leaving them stranded early Sunday morning.
At approximately 12:42 a.m., search and rescue volunteers received a report of four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir with a broken-down ATV, according to a Facebook post shared by the agency.
One of the men trekked to a high point and managed to send his wife at least two text messages, and she called the sheriff’s office, Cpl. Micheal Hilleger told Cedar City News.
The Snow Team was requested, and seven snowmobile team specialist volunteers and an Iron County Sheriff’s deputy responded with three snowmobiles and a side-by-side with tracks, according to the post.
The group’s exact location was unknown, but the team located them on the road in front of the campground and transported them down the mountain, Hilleger said. The group had set up an ice fishing shanty over their ATV and may have had a heater to stay warm while waiting for search and rescue.
However, the post states their ATV was not recovered and the rescued individuals need to arrange for its retrieval.
“Please be aware our team’s priority is to rescue people, not vehicles,” the post reads. “They will always ensure the safety of the person or persons by transporting them out of the area.”
The team returned to the search and rescue building at approximately 3:45 a.m., according to the post.
The “greatest thing” an individual or group can do to stay safe in remote areas is to let someone know where they are going and when they plan to return, Hilleger said.
They should also take an emergency kit in their vehicles. Additionally, Hillegar suggests those heading into the outdoors pack an emergency beacon device, like a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger, which can be used to request assistance in an emergency.
Photo Gallery
Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 Iron County Sheriff | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and a deputy rescue four individuals stranded near Yankee Meadow Reservoir, Utah, Jan. 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Cedar City News
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