Snow rescue near Hazel Camp

Sunday, February 26, 2023 at about 6:00am, Curry County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call from Brookings resident Kenneth Francis, reporting that he received a call from his buddies, saying they were stuck in the snow up off the Hazel Camp Road about twenty miles east of Gardiner Ridge and east of Brookings. 

This place is commonly known locally as the Gold Fish Pond.  Francis stated that there were four individuals with two vehicles involved and that they had spent the night in their vehicles due to having slid off the road and stuck in the snow. 

Francis said he was told the four of them had enough gas to run the car heaters to stay warm during the night but not enough gas to make it out due to the heavy snow fall.

Curry County Sheriff’s Dispatch contacted the SAR Coordinator, Sergeant Jared Gray, who was with the SAR team doing overnight survival training.  Three SAR members, Steve DiCicco, Will Tucker and Andy Stubbs, who were all at the training, loaded up the SnoCat and headed for the stranded subjects. 

At about 11:15am, the SAR team located the four stranded subjects and their vehicles.  Brooking’s residents Rocky Richards, Zachery Williams, Jacob Butler and Vince Gouman and their dog were given a ride back out of the area in the SnoCat.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch and SAR members want to remind everyone of the dangers due to foul weather and if you’re going to go out and recreate, make sure you are prepared for the worst and not take unnecessary chances.