How the missing couple got lost while travelling

**geotex1** · 04-10-2022, 01:24 PM

This is truly a sad, sad happening...

Technology has, in some ways, become too much of a reliance. Because it is so reliable in so many populated locations it is easy to overlook that there are vast expanses of the country cellular still does not reach. When it comes to navigating the unknown, I encourage everyone to learn the fundamentals and be situational aware, have and understand how to read maps and a compass, and always have a bail-out bag/survival bag ready.

I have said it here before, but for newcomers planning vast trips in new, more isolated places, realize that you can rent satellite phones and not have to make the big dollar investment for the equipment and plan for your trip.

**billriley777** · 04-13-2022, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by attaboy

Every RVer needs to be aware of what cost this man his life.
Bob A.

https://youtu.be/pSWXEGfumAM

Very sorry to hear about what happened. I had a very simular event where google maps took me on a dirt road that became a sugar sand road and then the trees closed in and we were getting stuck several times. It took 6 hours to eventually travel the 3 miles to the destinaton (Big Scrubb Campgrounds - in the Ocala Forest in Florida). If I did not have 4 wheel drive It would have cost thousands to get towed out. When I wathed this video I could relate to feeling that "its not so bad" feeling alone the way.

Bill

**attaboy** · 04-13-2022, 04:48 PM

@billriley777
Thanks for sharing your experience. I just hope that other RVers will learn from this terrible situation these people found themselves in. I also can relate to the "its not so bad" feeling.
Bob A.

**Malco1** · 04-13-2022, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by traveldawg

yeah.... um..... bummer.... it's why we travel with one of these and are glad to pay the fees for the secure feeling it gives us.

What an unfortunate thing. I guess each of us needs to review this and come away with our own lessons learned.

I am a ham radio operator, and I always have a HF radio in my truck. I don't understand why they didn't walk back to the RV. I always travel with at least 1/3 tank of fresh water.

**Fsalmy** · 04-14-2022, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Malco1

I don't understand why they didn't walk back to the RV.

From a couple of sources and her nephew on the video, I understand she was markedly impaired mobility. Not sure about her husband.

A series of small mistakes compounded into a tragic incident.

Updated video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruvaLy-6zec

**Malco1** · 04-14-2022, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Fsalmy

From a couple of sources and her nephew on the video, I understand she was markedly impaired mobility. Not sure about her husband.

A series of small mistakes compounded into a tragic incident.

Updated video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruvaLy-6zec

What a terrible shame.

**Steven@147** · 04-17-2022, 11:42 AM

A lot of us (RVers) will never understand how this could happen. Our analytical minds want to dissect each tidbit of information and identify what caused this tragedy. It has been talked about on a lot of different RV forums. I even looked up the coordinates of where the car was found to help understand how they got to where they were. In the end, we will never fully understand it, but its what we take away from this tragedy that counts.

I have noticed a lot of new RVers joining our forum recently, some experienced, some not so much. This is a tragic object lesson to learn from, read through it. Even something as simple as changing a tire along the road can put you in a dangerous situation before you know it.

Some may come away with the thought "this could never happen to us", "we are smarter than that". Well - are we really?
We can advise new owners, new RVers, what parts or tools to carry along, what check lists to use and what precautions to take. You could have all the toys possible - RV trip planning tools, RV GPS, RV road atlas, satellite phones and sat GPS, flares, caution lights, triangles and vests, etc., but it can all boil down to our decision making processes.
When in doubt - don't, trust but verify, don't blindly follow along, I've never had a problem doing this in all the years I have been RVing - until now!
Stay safe out there.

**Husker** · 04-20-2022, 05:40 PM

Heavy D Sparks, from the Diesel Brothers TV show, did the recovery of the RV and towed vehicle. They told more about the story of what happened and the aftermath on a YouTube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SvuZ_y75EU

**attaboy** · 04-21-2022, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by Husker

Heavy D Sparks, from the Diesel Brothers TV show, did the recovery of the RV and towed vehicle. They told more about the story of what happened and the aftermath on a YouTube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SvuZ_y75EU

Thanks for the update. End of story.
Tragic ending!
Bob A.

**Steven@147** · 04-21-2022, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Husker

Heavy D Sparks, from the Diesel Brothers TV show, did the recovery of the RV and towed vehicle. They told more about the story of what happened and the aftermath on a YouTube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SvuZ_y75EU

Yeah I saw it, was hard to watch.