Five days after being reported missing in Maine during a snowstorm, two intellectually handicapped ladies were discovered alive and well. Even though the temperatures dropped below 15 degrees, the two women somehow survived in their car without food or heat.
Kimberly Pushard, 51, and Angela Bussell, 50, were last seen on Wednesday at a gas station in Springfield, nearly 150 miles from home, filling up Pushard’s car, a day after they left their homes to go bowling.
The women got lost as law enforcement and family members attempted to steer them back home before they ran out of gas and their phones died.
After an alert was sent for missing vulnerable adults, police promptly initiated a search and rescue operation employing helicopters, trucks, and planes to try to locate the women. The search took place in New Hampshire and Massachusetts neighborhoods.
Five days later, on Sunday, February 26, a Maine game warden in a snowmobile discovered the women. The game warden came across the snow-covered SUV at Nicatous Lake, parked on an unplowed trail where it had run out of gas.
The game warden, Brad Richard, told a local television station that he was nervous as he approached the SUV, dreading the worst. He yelled out twice, then Pushard opened the driver’s door and poked her head out.
The warden asked her if she was Kim, and she seemed shocked that he knew her name, before telling her that authorities were looking for her and her friend.
The discovery was remarkable, according to the warden, because he discovered the women on a path he had not meant to explore. He stated that they were hungry, so he gave them his lunch while calling for assistance.
On Wednesday, the SUV became trapped in the snow, and by Saturday, it had run out of gas and heat. They would not have survived if they had attempted to walk for assistance because the nearest main road was miles away.
Bussell was treated for frostbite, while Pushard was admitted to the hospital for observation, but both were said to be in good spirits.