50 People Rescued in Oregon As GPS Failure To Identify Snowy Road Leaves Them Stranded
Following a GPS failure, over 20 cars were trapped in snow on a steep gravel Union County road last Wednesday. Search and rescue teams working with the Union County Sheriff’s Office rescued an estimated 50 people from the snowed-in cars on Ruckle Road.
20 Cars Stranded On Snowed In Union County Road
The Union County Sheriff’s Office indicated that over 20 vehicles were stranded on a snowy Union County road after GPS directions sent them onto an unsafe route.
The drivers had attempted to bypass road closures and delays on Interstate 84 using their GPS devices, which led them onto the snowy, hazardous back road. Ruckle Road is not cleared during snowy weather.
Union County rescue officials said the incident is a reminder to carefully evaluate, and not always follow GPS directions, especially in winter.
The statement confirmed that ”the interstate and highways are the best routes through the region during winter conditions. If these are closed due to weather or weather-related crashes, it is hazardous to attempt alternate travel routes.
Nick Vora, Union County’s emergency manager and search and rescue coordinator, indicated that search and rescue teams were dispatched after the first SOS satellite alert reporting a car stuck on the back road was received at about 2:15 p.m.
Within 30 minutes, more reports were received from other drivers trapped in the same area. Vora said, “GPS maps don’t differentiate between winter and summer routes and will tell people to take routes that could be a problem.”
Drivers are encouraged to watch weather updates and avoid unpaved roads.
Union County Deploys Crews To Rescue 50 People Stuck In Snow
A plow was brought in by Union County Public Works, and crews worked for almost two hours to free around 50 people.
The rescue was completed shortly after 5 p.m.. Still, Union County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cherise Kaechele confirmed that similar incidents happen yearly.
Kaechele confirmed that they usually accompany search and rescue teams to retrieve people stuck in the snow. She has found that this usually arises from people relying on Google Maps to get them where they are headed safely.
She urged drivers to stay on main roads and be patient while waiting for rescuers. She also suggested that drivers carry emergency kits.