Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue comes to aid of Madras pair stuck on muddy road at Big Summit Prairie

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue came to the aid Sunday evening of two Madras residents whose vehicle became stuck in the mud on a forest road in the Big Summit Prairie area of the Ochoco Mountains.

Crook County 911 received a call around 6:15 p.m. from two people seeking help, having tried to dig out of their muddy situation but unable to, Deputy Andy Pearson said.

There is limited cellphone coverage in the area, but the call provided a GPS fix, identifying their location near the 4215 road off the 42 road at Big Summit Prairie.

Pearson said the caller also said the woman with him was due to take important medications around 8 p.m.

Crook County SAR was paged out around 6:20 p.m. and nine members answered the call, Pearson said.

A “hasty plan,” with part of the team deploying early, was implemented to try to reach the pair as quickly as possible, due to the potential medical issue, the deputy said.

The rest of the team deployed after assembling and staged at the Independence Mine area. They brought two vehicles, one towing a tracked vehicle, in case it was necessary. Ham (amateur) radios provided communication, with Cal Topo and Montana GPS providing team tracking from the Emergency Operations Center in Prineville.

The hasty team left Prineville around 7 p.m. and arrived in the area around 8:20 p.m., Pearson said. One person had returned to the road and made a marker so that the SAR team would know which side of the road they were on, “very helpful in the growing darkness,” Pearson said in a news release.

The two subjects and their dog were then taken to a friend’s house in Prineville, who in turn brought them home to Madras. Pearson said the woman showed no signs of medical need during the incident.

"Crook County SAR would like to remind travelers that while the snow is melting and the roads are opening up, mud can be an issue on lightly traveled roads," Pearson wrote. "Please let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.  Also, please take all necessary items for a stay, in case trouble should befall you."