UCSO Search and Rescue has been busy
By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 28th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – News release from the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office:
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) members have been busy this month rescuing people in vehicles stuck in the snow on rural roads. Listed below are the missions so far this March (with the last one listed still in progress as this press release goes out).
March 12, 2024: Call received @ 8:42 a.m. – Mission completed @ 2:51 p.m.
Search and Rescue members assisted a female stuck in the snow in her vehicle in the area of Indian Lake Road, near Indian Lake Campground outside of Pilot Rock, Oregon. The female was located and given a courtesy ride to a residence in Pendleton.
March 18, 2024: Call received @ 2:43 p.m. – Mission cancelled @ 3:40 p.m.
Search and Rescue was notified of two females stuck in their vehicle in the snow and out of gas on Frazier Station Road near Frazier Campground outside of Ukiah, Oregon. These individuals were able to self-rescue, prior to search and rescue responding.
March 21, 2024: Call received @ 8:05 p.m. – Mission completed on March 22 @ 02:20 a.m.
Search and Rescue members assisted a male and female stuck in the snow in the area of Forest Service Road 53 and 5312 outside of Ukiah. Search and Rescue member located them and gave them a courtesy ride to Pendleton.
March 27, 2024: Call received @ 4:53 p.m. – Mission completed at 11:14 p.m.
Search and Rescue members assisted a female stuck in her vehicle in the snow in the area of Ross Rd, near Meacham. SAR members located her and she was able to drive her vehicle safely out of the area.
March 28th, 2024: Call received tonight @ 3:11 p.m. – Located at 6:27 p.m. – Mission completed @ TBD
Search and Rescue members assisted a male stuck in his vehicle in the snow reportedly somewhere near Suiste Lane outside of Ukiah. Search and Rescue members were able to locate him and were giving him a courtesy ride to Pendleton at the time of this release.
We ask that the public be cautious when traveling in rural areas. This time of year, driving in the mountains can be deceiving. People will often leave from lower elevations and be surprised and unprepared when they run into snow. Even if they are expecting snow, this time of year the snow gets very soft (especially as the day goes on) making it almost impossible to navigate through. Umatilla County Search and Rescue has prepared a video in their “Be Wise and Survive” series that explains the hazards of Driving on Mountain Roads in the Spring. http://www.umasarfoundation.org/main/MtnDan/SpringSnow.html
Umatilla County Search and Rescue members are volunteers. We would like to thank these amazing members of our community, who sacrifice their personal time to stay well trained and to respond immediately when others are in need.
Photo from UCSO is SAR Sgt. Dwight Johnson on a previous mission
