Blindly following GPS, 20 cars get stuck on a remote snow-covered mountain road

Emergency responders in Oregon are reminding motorists across the country think twice before following instructions provided by their navigation systemms. About 20 cars were stranded on a snowy road in the northeastern part of the state after following their GPS to save a few minutes.

News of the National reports that on Nov. 20, one of the stranded car enthusiasts sent a satellite SOS signal from an iPhone to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Officers who received the SOS call tracked him down Rackle Roadwhich is described as steep, poorly paved and, importantly, not plowed or otherwise maintained in winter. It’s far enough away that Google Street View won’t show you what it looks like.

The sheriff’s office received additional SOS calls shortly after dispatching a search and rescue team to Ruckle Road. They assumed the calls came from the same person, but search and rescue services arrived to find about 20 vehicles stuck. Facebook post Union County Search and Rescue explained that the cars became stuck in deep snow about six miles after crossing the Ruckle Road with the Craig Loop.

It didn’t take long for search and rescue personnel to realize that the UTV they brought with them to rescue the stranded car wasn’t going to be able to cut it. They enlisted the help of Union Country Public Works, which spent hours plowing the road with a grader, turning around stuck cars and helping them get out of the area. It wasn’t just cute little sedans: there’s the latest generation Toyota 4Runner among the cars parked on the beach.

Rescuers say motorists were stuck following the navigation system, which recommended taking Ruckle Road to save time while avoiding delays on I-84, which was temporarily closed. No word on which specific app considered the snowy mountain road to be a shortcut.

The moral of the story? When the voice on the dashboard says, “Turn left,” think twice before turning the wheel. “Interstates and highways are the best routes through our region during winter conditions,” Union County Search and Rescue concluded.

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