Man rescued after getting stuck in snow on Forest Service road near Sequim

SEQUIM — Emergency personnel plucked a Sequim-area motorist out of a remote area in Olympic National Forest after his vehicle became stranded in deep snow for more than four hours.

Brian Woytovich, 45, kept warm Friday evening with extra blankets, a sleeping bag and his vehicle heater while law enforcement personnel and a tow-truck driver tried but failed three times to reach him, Clallam Sheriff’s Deputy Shaun Minks said Sunday in an interview.

Woytovich, who could not be reached Sunday for comment, first became stuck in a ditch at about 5:30 p.m. Friday on a Forest Service road in the Slab Camp Road area south of Carlsborg, Minks said.

Woytovich told search-and-rescue personnel that he extricated his vehicle after getting stuck in snow but became disoriented and drove in the wrong direction on the unimproved road and into worse conditions.

He stopped to wait for help where several trees had fallen across the road, blocking his passage.

Minks said a caller to 9-1-1 told the Peninsula Communications dispatch center that a motorist was stuck in the snow near the Slab Camp trailhead.

Woytovich called a tow-truck driver who could not find him because of a lack of cellphone service but looked for him anyway before his truck-tire chain broke and he had to turn around, Minks said.

Minks’ all-wheel drive Taurus got stuck in 18 inches of snow before he, too, had to turn around, he said.

And the road was too slick for sheriff’s Deputy Jim Dixon to proceed in his chained-up Ford Crown Victoria cruiser.

Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Leiter, a member of the search and rescue team, was able to reach Woytovich in a four-wheel-drive Ford Expedition at about 10 p.m. Friday and led him out to Lost Mountain Road, Minks said.

“Luckily the motorist had prepared for emergencies and had enough fuel to keep him warm along with extra blankets and a sleeping bag,” Minks said Sunday in a press release.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Rich Foutch of Active Construction, Inc., in Tacoma paints a line on the roadway at the new roundabout at Kearney Street and state Highway 20 for the placement of temporary stripes in a pedestrian crosswalk on Monday in Port Townsend. The temperatures have to be in the mid-50s to install permanent striping, he said. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Roundabout striping

Rich Foutch of Active Construction, Inc., in Tacoma paints a line on… Continue reading

Proposal to rename Sequim road put on hold

Rotary, city to consider other options to honor local Olympian

Researcher: Managed forests needed to fight climate change

Wood products can replace existing fossil fuel-based materials

Jefferson County updates fee schedules

Environmental Public Health up 6 percent

The downtown Port Angeles Christmas tree is surrounded by people during a lighting ceremony on Saturday at First and Lincoln streets. The 30-foot tree will stand at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain plaza through the holidays. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Lit up for the holidays

The downtown Port Angeles Christmas tree is surrounded by people during a… Continue reading

tsr
Community Aid seeks support for Toys for Sequim Kids

Nonprofit helps hundreds of children with Christmas presents

Planned electrical outage in Forks on Thursday

A planned power outage in Forks will affect electric service… Continue reading

Nordland man dies of injuries from Nov. 14 wreck

A second person involved in a two-car collision on Nov.… Continue reading

Santa Claus, portrayed by Stephen Rosales of Sequim, waves to the crowd after his arrival by vintage fire truck at Centennial Place in downtown Sequim on Saturday, part of the city’s Hometown Holidays celebration. Santa, accompanied by Irrigation Festival royalty, greeted children next to the city’s Christmas tree in an event that also featured music by the Sequim City Band and a lighted tractor parade. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Holiday tradition

Santa Claus, portrayed by Stephen Rosales of Sequim, waves to the crowd… Continue reading

District 3 chief pick bows out

Fire officials could resume search in ’24

Clallam considers law enforcement pact with Makah

The Clallam County commissioners will consider a contract with… Continue reading