By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
news4garrod@gmail.com
PORTER TWP. – A 64-year-old Lawton man, involved in a traffic crash Friday night, Jan. 3, in Porter Township, left the scene of the crash on foot, sought out help, then became lost while walking in cold temperatures, suffering signs of hypothermia before he was eventually fond by au-thorities, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott said Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies were dis-patched at approximately 8:30 p.m. to the 74000 block of 22nd Street in Porter Township for a re-port of a traffic crash. Arriving at the scene, they found a vehicle that had crashed into a tree and was unoccupied. The vehicle was cold, and snow was collecting on it.
Sheriff Abbott said during the investigation, a nearby resident called and reported a male subject had been at their residence advising that he had car trouble and was cold. The subject said that he was trying to get to a friend’s house and left walking before deputies arrived. Deputies checked the area and found footprints in the snow leading off the roadway and began following them. They went through a field, a wooded area and then into the edge of a swamp. Deputies eventually located the subject, a 64-year-old Lawton man, who was unresponsive and lying on the ground under some brush.
Upon making physical contact with him deputies were able to get him to respond and be-come more coherent. Sheriff Abbott said the subject’s clothing was wet and starting to freeze and he advised that he could not feel his legs. The man told deputies that he had crashed at least two hours prior and became lost while walking. He told them that he eventually became exhausted and lay down where they found him. He was very disoriented and showed obvious signs of hypo-thermia, according to Sheriff Abbott.
Deputies assisted the subject back to the road where he was turned over to EMS for treatment. Sheriff Abbott said the weather at the time was around 20 degrees, with occasional heavy snow and high winds. Sheriff Abbott said if deputies had not located the footprints and fol-lowed them, it is likely that the subject would have succumbed to hypothermia in the edge of the swamp.
Sheriff Abbott reminds the public to make sure they have basic emergency supplies in their vehicle if they are involved in a motor vehicle crash or have car trouble in the winter. These items should include things like a blanket or extra coat, winter boots, water, food or snacks and a flashlight.
