Air, ground search finds lost ATV rider SE of Bend

The last warm weekend of official summer ended in typically busy fashion for Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, which was out on one mission to help a family that might be in trouble on South Sister when it was called to a report of a missing ATV rider who failed to return from a trip in an off-road area southeast of Bend. That extensive, overnight ground and air search ended successfully, but not until mid-morning Monday.

Shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday, county 911 dispatchers got a report of an overdue rider in the East Fort Rock OHV (off-highway vehicle) riding area, located about 20 miles east of Bend and 12 miles south of U.S. Highway 20, said sheriff’s Lt. Scott Shelton, SAR coordinator.

Alice Kerbow of Prineville said her husband, Charlie Kerbow, 62, last was seen around 5:45 p.m. Sunday and the family had been looking but unable to find him, Shelton said.

At the time, SAR was in the middle of an assist at South Sister, where some concerned citizens had called about a family with three young children on a descent, and some SAR resources were diverted to the missing ATV rider, Shelton said.

Fifteen SAR volunteers, two Forest Service law enforcement officers and two sheriff’s office special services deputies began conducting a “hasty” (perimeter-setting) search in the area.

Around 6 a.m. Monday, another team was deployed to take over management of the ATVer search, which grew to include 18 Deschutes County SAR volunteers, four Crook County SAR volunteers, two sheriff’s office amateur (ham) radio emergency services volunteers, two Forest Service field rangers, two BLM and one Forest Service law enforcement officers, an AirLink helicopter and Civil Air Patrol fixed-wing aircraft officers, Shelton said.

Kerbow was found around 10:30 a.m., in good condition. He told searchers he’d become disoriented by dust during his ride and followed a trail he believed his riding party had taken.

Kerbow encountered mechanical issues during the ride, and after dark found a spot he felt safe staying while waiting for daylight hours to locate a main trail, Shelton said.

Kerbow did not have a phone with him on the trip, so he was not able to communicate his location or condition.

Shelton said the sheriff’s office wanted to remind those venturing outdoors to bring the 10 essentials: A source of navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first-aid supplies, a fire-starting source, a repair kit/tools, nutrition, hydration, an emergency shelter – and a fully charged cellphone.