Missing man found lying in ditch in fire zone
The outcome was positive, but police say it’s an example of why people have to stay out of fire zone areas.
On Saturday, August 28 around 10:30 am, RCMP officers patrolling in the White Rock Lake fire area on Paxton Valley Road near Monte Lake, located an abandoned pick up truck that appeared to have been involved in a crash as it was high-centred on a fallen tree.
“The vehicle’s licence plates were from out of province and there were no signs of anyone nearby. Police conducted queries of the vehicle’s licence and could not locate information to contact the registered owner, a 35-year-old man,” said Cpl. Tania Finn, Media Relations officer with the Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP.
The vehicle was unlocked which allowed police to locate a cell phone inside.
“Fortunately, the cell phone still had enough battery left to show several missed calls,” said Finn. “Using the information found in the phone, the police officer on scene was able to make contact with the last caller.”
Police spoke with a family member of the truck owner who said it had been several days since they had contact with the man. The family said the man suffered from mental health issues and his current whereabouts were unknown.
“Believing the man’s safety was in jeopardy, the officers on scene updated other police resources patrolling the area of the man’s name and description in order to conduct a canvass for the man. Several kilometers away near Falkland, police found the man lying in a ditch, conscious but in need of medical attention,” Finn detailed.
The man told officers, after his truck became stuck, he tried to walk out but became lost and disorientated in the bush and had wandered for nearly five days before police found him. BC Ambulance Service attended and transported him to hospital.
“It is fortunate this circumstance had a positive outcome; however, the Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP are reminding everyone to stay clear of the fire zone areas given the unsafe conditions and that landscapes may have been altered due to the fire,” said Finn.
RCMP have been using police resources from around the province to assist with scene security, conducting patrols and creating check stops during the White Rock Lake wildfire.