Crook County sheriff’s deputies, Search and Rescue help four people whose vehicles got stuck on snowy FS roads

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Crook County sheriff's deputies and Sheriff's Search and Rescue volunteers came to the aid of four motorists, including a young child, whose two vehicles became stuck on snowy Forest Service roads Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday at around 3:45 pm, deputies responded to a report of a stuck motorist in the Ochoco National Forest on Forest Service Road 2610, Sergeant Steven Hatcher said in a news release Monday.

A preliminary investigation revealed two males were stuck in about 2-3 feet of snow while driving their Ford Ranger in snow conditions that exceeded both their vehicle’s and their driving abilities, Hatcher said.

Given the location of the stranded motorists, Crook County Search and Rescue was activated.

Both motorists were located and returned safely to Prineville.

While SAR members were actively searching for those motorists, a separate 911 call was received by Crook County Dispatch. The call involved a stuck motorist on Forest Service Road 27 east of Harvy Gap.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a woman drove her 2016 Chevy Tahoe in mountain snow conditions that exceeded both her vehicle’s and her driving abilities, with her 8-year-old child. She became stuck in snow, with temperatures expected to be below 10 degrees in the mountains that evening.

Both the woman and her child were located by SAR members and returned safely to their residence in Prineville.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the SAR team members who responded to make a successful and safe recovery. We would also like to remind motorists to utilize sound judgment while recreating our public lands.