Posted on 01/16/2020 5:02:39 PM PST by nickcarraway
A 68-year-old California woman who's been missing for almost a week was found alive Wednesday in her SUV that was buried under snow, officials said.
Paula Beth James of Oroville, California disappeared Jan. 9, triggering a Silver Alert. The Butte County Sheriff's Office said James has medical conditions that may have disoriented her.
“Her tracks were covered in snow,” said Dan Newman, who works for Butte County Search and Rescue. “We knew if we were going to find her and find her alive, we were going to have to do it really quickly.”
A sheriff's helicopter was searching near Butte Meadows around noon Wednesday and spotted a Toyota 4Runner that matched the description of James' SUV buried in snow, the sheriff's office said.
“That’s when we got excited this was hopefully her,” Newman said.
Two people exited the helicopter after it landed. They hiked to the SUV. Inside the SUV, they found James alive.
“It really is a needle in a haystack,” Newman said. “The vehicle had a lot of snow on top. On top of that, being a silver car, it doesn’t really have any contrast against the snow.”
The sheriff's office said a search and rescue team with a tracked vehicle suited for snow conditions pulled James out of her SUV.
“She was in good spirits,” Newman said. “She was very excited to see us and we were just as excited to see her.”
She was then taken to the hospital around 2:45 p.m.
Officials said James was conscious and talking when she arrived at the hospital. Her condition has been stabilized.
Family members said they are happy that James was found and are waiting updates.
"Everyone was just so relieved and so thankful," said niece Erin Powell. "My initial reaction was like, 'Yes!' Yes, it was so exciting."
"We're told she's in good spirits. She's doing good," niece Jennifer Horace said. "We're really hopeful for a positive, seamless recovery."
Horace said doctors are still running tests to make sure James is OK.
"We're just all waiting patiently by the phone for all updates, and all positive updates, and spending time together and smiling for the first time in a week," Horace said.
The sheriff's office said detectives, deputies and pilots spent more than 100 hours searching for James.
"It's just been so great to see how many good people there are out there," Horace said. "You see so many negative stories and its such a scary world, and to see so many people not knowing (James), not knowing the families, take time out of their day ... It's been amazing."
It is unclear how long James was in her SUV.
I can’t get stuck, I’ve got four-wheel drive!
well, it doesn’t look as if car was burried under snow, but glad the lady is alive and hopefully be ok.
4wd just let’s you get stuck further from pavement.
She broke the number one rule. No flight plan. I understand from local news she has AZ. Her family needs to install a tracker on her vehicle if they can’t keep her contained.
But my WAYZ map told me this was the route.
Finally, an SUV that isn’t evil.
“I can’t get stuck, I’ve got four-wheel drive!”
I drive a Jeep with a 2” lift kit, 32” tires, locking axles at both ends, and a 9000lb winch. If forward progress ceases I back out and find another way home.
. If forward progress ceases I back out and find another way home.
Maybe, but when they are stuck in front of you on the expressway you too are stuck.
I worked with some that said the same thing and added that they would drive on the embankment.
After a big snow hit Chicago, they looked awful and they were in the same train car! They did not make it home to the far west suburbs until almost midnight!
Ride the train for the winter.
When the guy in front is stuck, you are stuck.
“I drive a Jeep with a 2” lift kit, 32” tires, locking axles at both ends, and a 9000lb winch.”
And that is almost nothing for snow driving. I have 33” and I avoid serious snow. The crews around here that save stuck offroads usually run 40” tires. The best too you listed is the last one: willingness to turn back. I always list that attitude as the most important tool anyone can have for serious offroading.
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