Is this about the uber driver who could read English? Or the kid? Or the kid’s story put in to detract from the non English speaking issue. Or the non English speaking uber driver story put in to cover up from the actual dangers of kids taking dope?
Lotta coverup in there both ways
In historic times, the passengers would eat the Uber driver to survive.
This sort of thing kinda regularly happened on a high mountain road that is more directly from Grants Pass, OR to the coast. Early GPS would regularly take people there who would become stranded.
In one horrific incident, an Asian family found themselves stuck way up there. If I recall correctly, they all died.
See here:
https://www.oregonlive.com/oregonianextra/2007/11/kimfamily.html
Self-reliance is going the way of the horse and buggy.
An Uber drives the young people everywhere, nowadays.
Like the college band marching up to the brick wall in the parade in Animal House. Still pacing in step.
In Wyoming where I grew up, they have gates that close the roads if the passes are closed. Same here in Washington. Some of them are just one lane closures so you can get around them if you think you can make it.
Near my old cottage there was a road going up a steep hill that was closed in the winter. Fortunately the county was smart enough to block it off every Nov 15 so as to avoid problems like this.
I’ve been to the top of the pass from the highway 285 side. You need a high clearance 4x4 to go don the other side. No go even in a mild winter.
The road to Park City and beyond was a two lane mountain road with no guard rails on the cliff side.
At the entrance to that road, there was an electric sign that would say if the road was open or only 4WD vehicles with chains were allowed, depending on snow conditions.
There was even a parking area where you had to pull in to install your tire chains if required.
Recalcultating......Recalculating.....
It doesn’t mention how long they were stranded.