Searchers are continuing to look for a missing snowmobiler in the Groundhog area, according to the Dolores County Sheriff’s Office.
On Dec. 8, a multi-agency search led by the sheriff’s office was initiated for Ronald Wallace Jr., a 37-year-old Groundhog-area resident and U.S. Air Force veteran.
Wallace is presumed missing since early Sunday afternoon, Dec. 6. He was last heard from on Sunday afternoon via telephone when he called a friend during a short break from a snowmobile ride in the Groundhog area.
A family member reported Wallace missing on Tuesday morning.
Search and rescue teams, including a helicopter and dive team, have been scouring the area. A dive team from the Lewis-Arriola Fire District was called in late Tuesday and responded Wednesday to search an area of Groundhog Reservoir that had thin or no ice, and evidence of tracks. They are investigating whether the snowmobile fell through the ice.
According to a Dolores County sheriff press release, “Mr. Wallace is survival-trained and in excellent health. The Dolores County Sheriff’s Office is maintaining classification of its objective as an active search and rescue.”
Rescue teams involved include Dolores County Search and Rescue, Rico Search and Rescue, Lewis-Arriola Dive Team, and as advisory, the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, and United Search and Rescue of Montezuma County.
The Dolores County Sheriff’s Office requests that the public contact them with any information at 970-677-2257.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
