UPDATE: COUPLE RESCUED DESPITE BAD WEATHER AFTER BEING LOST IN DESERT FOR MORE THAN A DAY
3850 Justice El Paso, TX 79938 
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Direct: (915) 538-2119
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
EMAIL: jtovar@epcounty.com
EPCSO.ORG
Release Date / Time: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 3:00 PM
SECTION: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (LOWER VALLEY PATROL / SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM / STRIKE TEAM )
EVENT: COUPLE RESCUED AFTER BEING LOST IN BAD WEATHER FOR MORE THAN A DAY
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: Desert Area in Hudspeth County near the 3300 block of Indian Trail / S. Fabens / Carlsbad Rd.
DATE / TIME: Monday, November 30, 2009 5:30 PM
RESULT: Lost Motorists Rescued
UPDATE: Mr. HILL originally told Emergency Dispatchers both motorists were from Dallas, TX. New information revealed today 12-01-09 - that the couple is currently residing in the 14600 block of Montana El Paso County, TX. The couple told Sheriff’s Officials they were heading home from Cattleman’s Steakhouse and decided to take a shortcut through the desert in an attempt to reach their destination (Montana Ave.)
BACKGROUND:
EL PASO COUNTY, TX- Late Monday afternoon 11-30-09 at about 5:30 PM, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the area of 3300 Indian Trail / S. Fabens - Carlsbad Road in reference to lost/stranded motorists in the desert area near Cattleman’s Steakhouse. Dispatch Operators received a call from a male subject advising he & a female companion got stuck while driving through the desert in his Green pick-up truck. Both motorists were identified as RAMON HILL (24) –Driver & MELISSA FRUGE (41) – both originally from Dallas, TX but new information indicates they may currently be living in El Paso County, TX. Both motorists were unfamiliar with the terrain / area.
Mr. HILL was periodically contacting SO Dispatch Operators by cell phone advising what he thought was their location. After about an hour searching the desert area despite bad weather, the Sheriff’s office Search & Rescue & Strike Teams were summoned to the area. Teams arrived a short time later with newly acquired F-150’s & Polaris Razors All Terrain vehicles & began searching the desert areas in the heavy snow & cold conditions.
Mr. HILL was calling dispatchers on a cell phone using a calling card which prevented Communication Operators from contacting him. During one of the calls, Mr. Hill advised Dispatch Operators he was diabetic but needed no medication. He also advised the truck was running out of fuel to keep warm & they had no food or water only minimal liquids to drink (sodas). Operators relayed all information to rescuers on the ground.
Despite unfavorable weather conditions, Search Teams pressed on shining their spotlights into the desert in hopes the lost motorists could see the lights as their exact location remained unknown. Air support could not respond due to the heavy snowfall. Time was against the Rescue Teams as the lost motorists had been out in the desert for a prolonged period of time. During the course of the search, Mr. HILL contacted emergency dispatchers advising they could see lights heading in their direction.
The United States Border Patrol joined the search effort a short time later. At about 12:45 AM, the motorists were finally reached by USBP Agents using their all terrain pick-up trucks. It was determined the lost motorists were found approximately 20 miles into the desert in Hudspeth County about 10 miles from Highway 62/180. Their pick-up truck had just become disabled when the lost motorists were reached.
Initial reports indicated the couple had been lost in the desert since 7:00 am 11/30 but after interviewing the motorists, officials learned they had been out there since late Sunday night 11-29-09.
Life Ambulance who was standing by near the search area treated & released both parties. Both were found to be healthy & unharmed.
Dispatch Operators played a vital role in the rescue operation as they were in constant communication with Mr. HILL relaying information to the rescue teams. Operators needed to be prompt & short each time contact was made as the battery & signal on the motorists cell phone was weakening by the minute.
All motorists are discouraged to travel through unfamiliar roads in unfamiliar areas –especially during bad weather.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.