California woman survives four nights in her TOTALED truck after it fell 250ft into canyon in freezing temperatures
A woman in California survived four freezing nights in her totaled truck after the vehicle fell 250 feet into a canyon.
The unidentified woman was discovered Sunday by passerby Chris Ayres after her Ford Ranger fell off the side of Mount Baldy Road in San Bernardino on Jan. 3.
She told firefighters that she lost control of her car when she tried to swerve to avoid a deer near mile marker 3.3 before plunging into the dense brush and dangerous terrain of the Angeles National Forest.
Ayres reported seeing the woman’s head sticking out of the truck. He then contacted authorities and rescue teams found her trapped in her vehicle but fully alert.
‘No one saw her go over the side, no signs of tire tracks or anything on the road or on the side of the road. So she was very lucky that they happened to stop by and listen to her,” said Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Ian Thrall. KCLA.
An unidentified woman said she left the side of the road on January 3 and tumbled into the Angeles National Forest. She then remained trapped in the vehicle for four nights until a good Samaritan helped rescue her.
The woman is seen being transported from the Angeles National Forest to a nearby hospital. She is believed to have suffered a broken ankle and is in stable condition
During her time stuck on the levee, the woman had no cell service or a way to call for help.
The victim is said to have survived for five days and four nights without the supplies available to her in her car which was discovered near tunnels in the area.
Her rescue was completed through a successful collaboration between firefighters, the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. She was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
‘I don’t know how she survived. I saw the steering wheel, folded almost like a taco. Her head must have fallen on that,” Ayres told KCLA.
Rescuers were amazed to see that the woman not only survived the intense crash, but also the icy elements on Mount Baldy.
The mountain peak is known to reach freezing temperatures at night in January and can experience both rain and snow.
“Based on everything, there will be elements of hypothermia, possibly dehydration, malnourishment and possible leg injuries,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Dondanville said.
The woman lost control of her car on Jan. 3 at Mt. Baldy Road near mile marker 3.3 and was discovered Sunday in her totaled car when a passerby noticed her
The woman is said to have survived for five days and four nights without the supplies available to her in her car that was discovered to the south near tunnels in the area.
Authorities and rescue teams found her trapped in her car and fully alert, despite having been there for days
The woman is believed to have suffered a broken ankle and is in stable condition. Authorities have not released her identity and she asked not to be interviewed.
Although she said she flew off the side of the road because of a deer, authorities have yet to confirm details of the crash.
“We can’t stress this enough: If you plan to travel on a mountain road this winter, bring extra gear. It never hurts to have food, water, a sleeping bag and extra layers on hand in case of an emergency,” the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team said in a Facebook post.
The case is similar to that of a Midwestern man who recently survived in his overturned car for almost a week.
Matthew R. Reum, 27, managed to survive his plight without rainwater while trapped in his vehicle and unable to call for help for six days in late December in Portage, Indiana.
It was only when two local fishermen saw the debris that people came to his aid. According to the police, there have been no reports of an accident.
Bodycam footage showed several firefighters working on the debris field, showing the crumpled truck near the rushing water and the man trapped inside.
Despite the ordeal, Reumn joked that first responders shouldn’t take his pulse right now because the numbers would probably be “scary.”
A state trooper admitted that Rerum might have died without the two stumbling on the scene.
Matthew R. Reum, 27, managed to survive on rainwater after crashing off Interstate 94 in Portage, Indiana. He was discovered on December 26 and survived on his own for six days
Reum is seen lying in bed, smiling, with one hand giving a thumbs up while the other is wrapped in a plaster cast as he recovers from broken bones
Police say Reum survived thanks to warmer-than-average weather over the past six days.
“He was able to drink rainwater for hydration so he could survive for so long while exposed to the elements,” said Sgt. Glen Fifield of the Indiana State Police said.
Reum suffered “serious, potentially life-threatening injuries” and was airlifted to a hospital, where he will undergo the amputation of his leg as part of the recovery process.
Reum can be seen lying in bed smiling, one hand giving a thumbs up while the other is wrapped in a plaster cast as he recovers from broken bones.
“He is alive and that is what we care about most during this difficult time. He needs all the love and support he can get,” said Reum’s girlfriend Haley Traxler.