Men Stuck In Freezing Cold Call 911 Hours After Running From Officers
EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) - A couple of men who took off running from deputies in the mountains later found themselves calling 911 to be rescued from freezing to death.
The incident happened Friday morning at the intersection of Wright's Lake Road and Highway 50, between Kyburz and Strawberry. According to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, a California Fish and Wildlife officer had pulled over a car at the intersection, only to have the two occupants get out and take off.
Despite the cold and snow, the men ran down into a canyon and crossed a freezing river to get away from officers. A gun was dropped during the chase, authorities say.
Illegal drugs were found in the suspects' car and authorities soon discovered that one of the men, 32-year-old Derek Dion, had four warrants out for his arrest. The other man, 30-year-old Tristen Crossland, was on parole.
A US Forest Service officer spotted the men a few hours later, but the two ran back into the snowy canyon, crossed the freezing river and headed towards the forest.
Friday night, Crossland called 911 asking for help, saying he and his friend were close to freezing to death.
Rescuers searched through the night and eventually found the men a little after 9 a.m. Saturday. Both men were suffering from severe hypothermia and possible frostbite.
The two have been taken to the hospital before they were booked at El Dorado County Jail.
"You will never see two men so happy to go to a warm, dry jail cell," the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.
