Family rescued after night stuck in car

Vehicle trapped in deep snow on forest service road with temperatures dipping as low as -25

A family of four are home safe after spending a frigid night stuck in snow on a backcountry road.

The rescue turned out to be relatively simple, but search and rescue officials say the situation should serve as a reminder to be prepared for survival when driving in the winter.

“The thing that elevated the concern was the temperature,” Kamloops Search and Rescue’s Alan Hobler said Sunday, with the temperature in the area where the family was stuck dipping as low -25 overnight.

He said the family were “off having a good time,” driving in deep snow on a forest service road that runs off Hwy 97C between Logan Lake and Ashcroft. But their vehicle got stuck and they had to call for help.

Initially they tried a towing company, which said they were stuck too far from the highway for a tow truck to be able to reach them safely. The company called the RCMP, which got in touch with Kamloops SAR.

Ten volunteers organized to get out to the family using snowmobiles; the family had also called a number of friends, one of whom was able to get to them as well.

Thankfully, the family’s engine was still running and so they were able to keep warm.

“Once the that fuel runs out it’s into a really serious survival situation,” Hobler said.

The lesson: be smart when driving in winter conditions and prepare for the worst. Don’t put yourself in spots that might create big problems.

“It’s probably a good warning that little things can cause big potential problems.”

The federal government’s Get Prepared website suggests the following:

Stay in your car: you will avoid getting lost and your car is a safe shelter.

Don’t tire yourself out. Shovelling in the intense cold can be deadly.

Let in fresh air by opening a window on the side sheltered from the wind.

Keep the engine off as much as possible. Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If possible, use a candle inside a deep can instead of the car heater to warm up.

Turn on warning lights or set up road flares to make your car visible.