Accidentally set off locator device sparks search
Rescuers searched mountains for three hours only to find the safe travelers uninjured
By EMS1 Staff
ASPEN, Colo. — A group of travelers who accidentally set off one of their personal emergency locators sparked a three-hour long search by rescuers to find them.
The group ended up being safe and was just eating at an Aspen Skiing Company lunch cabin, according to the Aspen Daily News.
The Pitkin County Sherriff's Office was notified of an activated personal emergency locator beacon by the locator's manufacturer. The beacon transmitted the travelers' latitude and longitude, and because they were all just eating, their location never changed. The lack of movement had rescuers thinking the travelers were hurt.
"Our concern was that the coordinates had not moved," Sheriff's Deputy George Kremer said.
Rescuers used all-terrain vehicles to search the mountain and eventually found the group safe and uninjured.
