Missing Eugene couple, granddaughter rescued, 2 days after car got stuck

(Update: Couple, granddaughter found safe; new photo, info)

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Eugene couple and their 4-year-old granddaughter, the subject of an extensive search when they failed to return from a Christmas tree-cutting trip on Monday, were found safe on Wednesday, officials said.

The three were found in the Quartz Creek area, the Lane County Sheriff's Office reported in a Facebook update early Wednesday afternoon.

"They are safe and looking forward to being reunited with family!" the agency said.

Sheriff's deputies said a Coast Guard plane spotted the lost family's car from the air.

Several deputies and Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams had been searching for Sharon Poitra, 61, husband Gregory Poitra, 63, and 4-year-old Zelda Sudhoff-Clements, who had gone into the Willamette National Forest to cut a tree in their white 2007 Toyota Matrix, Oregon license plate 502 CWD.

"After getting the family into a warm place with some food and water, we learned that their car got stuck in an area with downed trees and snow," the sheriff's office said later Wednesday in an updated post. "Thankfully, they had a blanket, some water, a tarp and snacks in the car, and were all wearing warm clothing."

Deputies said they were reported missing Tuesday to Eugene police when the girl’s mother went to pick up Zelda and there was no sign they had returned from their trip.

It wasn't known which part of the forest they were heading to, but an investigation, including pinging the couple’s phones, indicated they might have traveled to the Fall Creek area.

A new team headed out Wednesday morning, including a drone team, deputies said. They also were working with the U.S. Coast Guard to help search from the air.

Due to poor weather, cold temperatures and challenging terrain, the sheriff’s office asked community members not to go searching the forest on their own, but instead provide information about any sightings to assist in the search.

Track updates on the sheriff's office Facebook page.