Print
E-mail
Comment
Man rescued after spending night in car
By Rhonda Moore
A Douglas County man spent a long night in his car when it ran off a remote and icy road about seven miles west of Sedalia. Sherman Collins, 74, was discovered in his vehicle after it slid off a ravine on Colorado 67.
Collins spent the night in his car until a passerby noticed tire tracks leading off the side of the road.
Collins was driving home around 6 p.m. Nov. 16, heading westbound on Colorado 67 when he encountered a motorcycle heading east in the west bound lane, said Sgt. John Hahn, Colorado State Patrol. Colorado 67 runs perpendicular to US 85, Santa Fe Drive, from Sedalia west to Pike National Forest.
Collins went off the road at mile post 120, in a remote portion of the highway, within a few miles of his home, Hahn said. He swerved to avoid hitting the motorcycle, which did not stop, and went off the right side of the road about 12 feet down an embankment.
His vehicle was not visible from the road and he apparently was not sure he could navigate the embankment to flag down assistance, Hahn said.
Instead, he spent the night in his vehicle, running his car periodically to keep warm.
He was discovered early the next morning when Sedalia resident Mark Ransom noticed tire tracks in the snow-dusted road. Ransom, who lives nearby but works at the Larkspur post office, was slowly navigating the curves because of the icy appearance of the road.
Ransom thought there was something strange about the tracks he saw leading off the side.
“The tire tracks were in the drifty snow, with no evidence of any recovery of any vehicle,” Ransom said. “Why not take a look? That’s how you find people.”
Unsure what he would find, Ransom got out to investigate and spotted Collins’ truck, its inner cab alit. He knocked on the window a few times before Collins looked up, his look of relief mirroring Ransom’s own.
Collins complained of chest pains and pain in his leg, but he kept warm through the night by periodically starting his vehicle.
“He had filled up at Sedalia so he had plenty of gas to keep warm,” Ransom said. “He said he’d been honking his horn and blinking lights and nobody stopped.”
Ransom stayed with Collins until help arrived, within a few minutes of Ransom’s emergency call. Ransom was relieved the outcome was not tragic.
“It makes me feel good to have been the one to get the help the man needed,” Ransom said. “It feels good to see it come out and turn out the way it should.”
Collins was transported to a Littleton hospital and treated for moderate injuries, Hahn said.
State patrol investigators are seeking information to lead to the identity of the motorcyclist, Hahn said. Authorities did not receive any reports of a motorcycle driving on the wrong side of the road that evening, Hahn said.
“We would certainly appreciate any assistance from the public,” Hahn said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the state patrol at 303-239-4583.
Collins spent the night in his car until a passerby noticed tire tracks leading off the side of the road.
Collins was driving home around 6 p.m. Nov. 16, heading westbound on Colorado 67 when he encountered a motorcycle heading east in the west bound lane, said Sgt. John Hahn, Colorado State Patrol. Colorado 67 runs perpendicular to US 85, Santa Fe Drive, from Sedalia west to Pike National Forest.
Collins went off the road at mile post 120, in a remote portion of the highway, within a few miles of his home, Hahn said. He swerved to avoid hitting the motorcycle, which did not stop, and went off the right side of the road about 12 feet down an embankment.
His vehicle was not visible from the road and he apparently was not sure he could navigate the embankment to flag down assistance, Hahn said.
Instead, he spent the night in his vehicle, running his car periodically to keep warm.
He was discovered early the next morning when Sedalia resident Mark Ransom noticed tire tracks in the snow-dusted road. Ransom, who lives nearby but works at the Larkspur post office, was slowly navigating the curves because of the icy appearance of the road.
Ransom thought there was something strange about the tracks he saw leading off the side.
“The tire tracks were in the drifty snow, with no evidence of any recovery of any vehicle,” Ransom said. “Why not take a look? That’s how you find people.”
Unsure what he would find, Ransom got out to investigate and spotted Collins’ truck, its inner cab alit. He knocked on the window a few times before Collins looked up, his look of relief mirroring Ransom’s own.
Collins complained of chest pains and pain in his leg, but he kept warm through the night by periodically starting his vehicle.
“He had filled up at Sedalia so he had plenty of gas to keep warm,” Ransom said. “He said he’d been honking his horn and blinking lights and nobody stopped.”
Ransom stayed with Collins until help arrived, within a few minutes of Ransom’s emergency call. Ransom was relieved the outcome was not tragic.
“It makes me feel good to have been the one to get the help the man needed,” Ransom said. “It feels good to see it come out and turn out the way it should.”
Collins was transported to a Littleton hospital and treated for moderate injuries, Hahn said.
State patrol investigators are seeking information to lead to the identity of the motorcyclist, Hahn said. Authorities did not receive any reports of a motorcycle driving on the wrong side of the road that evening, Hahn said.
“We would certainly appreciate any assistance from the public,” Hahn said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the state patrol at 303-239-4583.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. |
