An alert helicopter crew helped to rescue stranded motorists near Groundhog Reservoir on the night of March 16.
Dolores County Sheriff Jerry Martin said two females and a male were traveling in a Chevy Impala on the Dolores-Norwood Road when they encountered deep mud and snow and slid into a ditch. Their names were not released.
Martin said the 71-year-old male began walking back down the road to try and find help. The trio had no overnight gear or supplies.
Meanwhile, a rescue helicopter from San Juan Regional Aircare was returning to Farmington when crew spotted the disabled car in the remote area.
"We came across the vehicle using our night-vision goggles," said Steven Malarchick, a member of the crew.
The helicopter landed and provided the females in the car blankets. They called in the accident and then transported the male back to Cortez, who had already walked four miles.
Rescue units from Dolores County sheriff's office responded and pulled the vehicle out of the ditch, and the females were able to drive out.
"We really appreciate the rescue helicopter doing what they did," Martin said. "Otherwise, no one would have known about it, and the rescue would have been delayed."
The temperature that night was in the low 20s.
Martin said his deputies have been responding to more stranded motorists on the Dolores-Norwood road during winter. The road is not closed to allow access to private homes, but it is impassable by car much of the winter.
