Sheriff’s Office rescues stranded hiker

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: The Sheriff's Office will utilize Governor’s Office of Highway Safety funds for DUI abatement.

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

BONITA CREEK – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office rescued a stranded hiker in the Bonita Creek area on Jan. 31 after the man’s vehicle got stuck on Jones Road.

According to a Sheriff’s Office report, the man – who identified himself as an avid hiker – left his stranded vehicle but then became lost.

Graham County Search and Rescue was alerted around 4 p.m. and began to mobilize. However, a deputy following a cell phone ping from the lost hiker traveled Bull Gap Road to Orange Cliff Road across Bonita Creek and then located the hiker in the area of N. Turtle Mountain Road.

The man declined medical assistance and advised the was just starting to get cold.

SAR was canceled, and the hiker was transported back to Safford and advised he would call for a tow truck to retrieve his vehicle the following day.