Associated Press
TONASKET — A United Parcel Service driver who got stuck in the blowing snow crawled into a doghouse for shelter, and waited there for hours until he could get help.
Billy Armstrong, 43, of Riverside was treated for exposure and released from North Valley Hospital on Wednesday.
He said he got stuck at about 5 p.m. Wednesday on Coco Mountain, about 35 miles east of Tonasket in the remote Aeneas Valley. Unable to free his truck using chains, he went to the nearest home and delivered a package, but found no one home.
Blowing snow cut short a hike across a field to another residence, he said. He eventually made his way to the only other home in the area, but found no one at home, so he crawled into a dog shelter and pulled cardboard over the door.
Meanwhile, UPS supervisors called the Okanogan County sheriff’s office at about 9 p.m. when Armstrong didn’t return from his deliveries. Deputies found his truck, but were unable to follow his tracks because of the snow.
A resident returned home at about 10:30 p.m. Armstrong said he crawled out of the doghouse and asked her if he could come in and warm up.
He said she took him inside, gave him some tea and took him to the Aeneas Valley Store, where he was met by an ambulance.
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