92-year-old faces night of subzero temps before rescue; Travel plan pays off
When Larry Hendrickson did not return the night of Nov. 7th, Oregon State Police were notified that the driver was overdue. Troopers located the vehicle abandoned on West Airport Lane near Baker City. A short distance away, police discovered the 92-year-old had fallen down an embankment. Temperatures dropped to 28 degrees that night, according to Accuweather.com
From Oregon State Police:
BAKER CITY, Ore. 13 Nov. 2023 – Oregon State Police troopers recently rescued an elderly driver who had earlier been reported as overdue. The 92-year-old motorist, Larry Hendrickson, is recovering well after spending a night exposed to below-freezing temperatures.
On Nov. 7, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m. troopers were notified of an overdue motorist. The motorist was last known to be traveling westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 283 in Baker County. The following morning, troopers located the vehicle abandoned on West Airport Lane. A short distance away, the troopers discovered the elderly male driver down an embankment.
The driver had fallen down the embankment and was covered in vegetation when discovered. Thankfully, the driver was conscious and breathing when located by an OSP trooper and an officer from Baker City Police Department. The man had survived the night in life-threatening cold weather conditions. When located, the temperatures remained below freezing. Officers rendered first aid until emergency medical responders from Metro West Ambulance arrived and transported the driver to a local hospital.
“We are grateful for this positive outcome. Cold weather exposure can be life-threatening and another night in these conditions may have been fatal,” said Captain Kyle Kennedy, Oregon State Police. Like Mr. Hendrickson, motorists are encouraged to make sure others know their travel plans and intended routes in the event of unexpected travel-related complications.
