Havasu 4 Wheeler club members rescued a stranded man Thursday after they heard a faint yell for help in the distance.
Bruce Spiers, past president of the club, said about 15 club members were out for a routine Jeep run when they stopped out in the desert.
“Off in the distance they could hear ‘help, help, help’ and someone noticed a man out in the desert running toward them,” Spiers said.
Spiers stated in an email to Today’s News-Herald the man told club members he was alone and went exploring when his older-model Chevy Blazer rolled over onto its roof.
The site of the rollover was near Jupiter Mines, four miles away from where the group discovered the man. Club members, led by longtime member Dave Opperman, responded and used their vehicles and winches to right the toppled truck. The members then towed the truck 10 miles to the Standard Wash kiosk south of Lake Havasu City.
The unidentified driver-in-distress told the club members he was from Cave Creek, Ariz., and on his way to Seattle, Wash., when he stopped in the area to do some off-road exploring.
“Go in a group, there’s safety in numbers,” Spiers said. “He was very lucky. One, he wasn’t killed (when the vehicle rolled over) and two, he was able to find help and wasn’t injured on the hike out.”
In the email, Spiers also stated it’s a good idea to always have a second vehicle along during excursions, to let someone know of your travel plans and provide an anticipated time of return.
“For this young visitor it turned out well,” Spiers stated in the email. “But had he been farther out and the weather worse, he may not have (fared) so well.”
In a telephone interview Sunday, Spiers said the club members regularly help stranded off-road enthusiasts about once a month when they are out in the desert, but this was by far the most dramatic mishap.
The club boasts about 160 members, for more information about club activities visit www.havasu4wheelers.org.
You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.
Similar news:
- Utah man injured in car crash shortly before he planned marriage proposal has died
- Rail car gets away from bridge crew, travels 11 miles away and 5 back before …
- AAA: 932K Virginians to take summer road trips
- California Jeep® Dealers Donate 2012 Jeep Wrangler to San Diego 4 Wheel Drive Club
- Road carnage mars start to holidays
RSS
Facebook
Google+
Twitter
