|
  |
Truck stuck in snow with teenagers
By
Bill Blaschko, M.D.
Im
sure the many Southern Californians reading this
will remember the welcome series of storms last
March that helped avert a serious drought
situation. As is so often the case though, what
was a relief for many, was a problem for a few
individuals.
Late
in the evening on March 16, RMRU was called out
to rescue four teenagers who were overdue after
attempting to drive up a dirt road from Hemet to
Pine Cove. There were two vehicles with a boy and
girl in each. I have driven the route they were
on in good weather and found it to be a fun drive
although quite rugged in places. With the thick
layer of snow on the ground it was easy for me to
imagine how their vehicles (only one was four
wheel drive) could get stuck. After getting stuck
in the snow a couple of miles short of their
destination, the boys walked to Pine Cove, called
for help, and returned to the girls who were
waiting in the cars.
RMRU
members met with the Riverside County
Sheriffs Deputy in Pine Cove and P.J. Hunt,
our team member most experienced in driving in
snow conditions, was sent down the road to
investigate. P.J. found the road without any
difficulty but there was no sign of the missing
subjects. As we began to search local area the
teenagers might have strayed to, the
Sheriffs Deputy re-contacted the parent. We
found out that all four of subjects had walked to
a friends house in Pine Cove and had been
warm and secure the entire time we were
searching.
With
the help of a shovel, a tow strap and some elbow
grease we got the team van un-stuck and everyone
headed home.
|
  |