While attempting to bypass the Interstate 80 closure, the family, which included children as young as 5, detoured onto the two-lane dirt road, which was buried in snow. There are illuminated signs warning drivers not to use Dog Valley/Henness Pass roads. “However, the family’s GPS won the battle of which technology to listen to,” according to a Facebook post from the Sheriff’s Office.įrom Sunday to Monday, Yuba-Sutter CHP’s graveyard crew ended up working a 20-hour shift rescuing a family trapped in a Suburban who had passed three road closure signs and were stuck in the snow. Jeremy Alcala, who owns B&K Towing, the only towing service in the region, was able to reach the family. She said the family in the Suburban was trying to get to Chicago.Ī bunch of non-local people who haven’t wanted to read a sign,” said Krishna Alcala, who works as dispatcher for B&K Towing.īut before he and CHP could safely tow them out, they had to wait for PG&E to clear downed power lines that had fallen during the attempt to rescue the family. "We’ve certainly never had a winter like this where people just don’t listen.”Ī lot of people think they can drive through the Quincy area when Interstate 80 is closed, said Quincy CHP Commander Chris Parent. “When people don’t normally drive in these conditions or they’re not seeing the signs that require chains, then they just end up in chest-high snow in a Honda Civic," said Parent. "And it’s not going to work.In a public warning last week, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said that drivers had frequently taken the same detour when using GPS. From November 2020 to last February, emergency responders were called to 11 rescues, according to the sheriff. Raquel Borrayo, a spokeswoman for Caltrans, California’s state transportation department, said in an email on Wednesday that the agency had tried to reinforce that overreliance on GPS apps could be risky. “When people try to use mapping apps like Waze or Google Maps to avoid highway closures, they can sometimes be put in very precarious and dangerous situations with unplowed roads/dirt roads, heavy amounts of snow and zero cellphone service,” Ms. “We always tell people to stay on highways and find alternate routes that way vs. We also recommend people just stay put and wait until the interstate or highway closure has been lifted.”ĭuring this week’s storm, several people posted screen shots on Twitter of Google Maps and Waze directions sending users to the Henness Pass Road, which the Sierra County Historical Society describes as a secluded and winding mountain road that rises to an elevation of 6,920 feet. The road, a primary emigrant trail from Virginia City, Nev., is “left off many maps,” according to a description on the historical society’s website. The Donner Pass, named for the doomed snowbound pioneer family, some of whom resorted to cannibalism during the 1840s, is about 40 miles from the detour.Ī spokeswoman for Waze said in an email on Thursday that the company was committed to helping drivers navigate efficiently and safely. “We encourage drivers to exercise caution and to stay alert on the road,” “In light of this week’s snowstorm and changing weather conditions, Waze Community Map Editors continue to keep our maps updated with the latest real-time routing information,” the spokeswoman, Caroline Bourdeau, said. Waze has a filter that allows drivers to avoid unpaved roads.Ĭrystal A.
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