MANTUA - Ellen Cook, Headliner Media Specialist, August 4, 2022
A Brigham City woman reported missing on Tuesday, July 26, was found late Wednesday night, August 3, on the Willard Peak Road near Dock Flat. She was suffering from internal injuries and dehydration after having spent eight days in a 300-foot ravine.
According to Box Elder County Deputy Sheriff Cade Palmer, the woman, 64, spoke very little to rescuers but did say she had gone off the road about 6:30 a.m., that first Tuesday, and had spent five days in her car before attempting to crawl up and out. Palmer said the car was located at the bottom of a gorge with extremely steep slopes so it could easily have taken her three days to make her way up the sides, especially with injuries.
"Our officers had to repel down to it," he said. "There were lots of trees and boulders so it would have been difficult."
He said their investigation determined she was driving between 45-60 mph when she left the roadway. There was damage to all sides and the top of the vehicle, but it is not known whether it rolled or not, as it was resting on it wheels with the driver's door open when officers got to it. A case of water was found in the vehicle, "so she had access to water," he added.
Palmer said the woman's husband had called Brigham City Police about 7:30 a.m. that Tuesday morning after finding her and their car missing. He had already search near Mantua before making the report as she was known to frequent that area. Officers did a search in that location, as well, but did not find her.
She was discovered in the road about 10:45 p.m. more than a week later by a passerby, who notified officers. She was taken by ambulance to Brigham City Hospital. A medical helicopter was initially called, but was later canceled.
Palmer said they will learn more when they have a chance to interview the woman in more detail.