Iron County SAR Responds to Stranded Motorist Near Cedar Breaks NM

Cedar City, UT - Saturday (11/16/2024), Shortly after 11pm, Iron County Search and Rescue received a call concerning a stranded 20-year-old SUU College student from Arizona on Cedar Mountain.  Coordinates from the individual showed he was directly East of Blowhard Mountain, east side of Highway 148.

SAR responded to the area with four search and rescue volunteers, two Iron County Sheriff’s Deputies, three trucks, four snowmobiles and an ATV with tracks.  The driver was found approximately 400 feet east of the highway in roughly two feet of snow.  He informed the rescuers that he wanted to take a ride up the mountain and drive around in the snow and found himself off the improved trail when he got stuck.  Temperatures were in the single digits but the driver had warm clothing and plenty of fuel.

Rescuers were able to help the driver get his vehicle out of the deep snow using the winch on the ATV and a set of traction boards. A Search and Rescue volunteer drove the vehicle to an area where the snow was not as deep where the driver was able to then drive himself down the canyon and back to Cedar City.

In all, the efforts lasted until around 1:30am Sunday morning.