Two women who disappeared during a snowstorm in Maine were found five days later, surviving in their SUV without food or heat. Temperatures had dropped to about -15℉, roughly -26℃, when rescuers finally located them.
Kimberly Pushard, 51, and Angela Bussell, 50, were last seen refueling their jeeps in Springfield, about 240 miles from their home in Vermont, on the Wednesday before they vanished. It was reported that they had left the day prior to go bowling, a routine trip that suddenly became a life-and-death struggle against a brutal winter storm.
Authorities say the women became separated from their planned route as the storm intensified. Their phones lost power, and rescue teams faced the challenge of locating them amid rapidly changing weather conditions. Fuel and supplies dwindled as the hours stretched into days.
State rescuers deployed a wide array of assets, including helicopters, planes, and ground crews. Teams also extended searches into neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire as the search expanded in scope and urgency.
On Sunday, February 26, a forester on a snowmobile spotted a red SUV buried under a heavy layer of snow. The vehicle had run out of gas, and visibility was limited by continuing snowfall. The rescuer, who recognized the drivers by name, acted quickly to guide responders to the scene and assist the women as they emerged from the vehicle.
In describing the moment, the rescuer reflected that life can hinge on a single chance observation. The encounter underscores how swiftly winter conditions can alter a routine trip into a perilous situation. The forester recalled learning of the people involved through emergency calls and the broader rescue effort, noting the unpredictable nature of such events during a severe storm.
The women had no food on hand and only a half-empty bottle of Mountain Dew remained, which had frozen in the harsh cold. If help had taken longer to arrive, the outcome could have been far worse. State rescue services leaders emphasized that every hour mattered when people are stranded in extreme cold, and access to warmth and fuel can make the difference between survival and tragedy.
Officials described how the rescue operation avoided a worst-case scenario. The responders stressed that had the women attempted to walk out along a remote road, distance and terrain would have posed serious risks. Safe transport and swift medical attention were critical, and one of the women was treated for frostbite before being discharged from the hospital that evening. The other sustained bruises and muscle tension but recovered with medical care and rest.
Earlier reports noted similar winter dangers; for instance, a skier trapped in an avalanche was rescued after hours of searching when a hand stuck out of the snowdrift finally drew attention. These incidents together paint a clear picture: winter conditions demand respect, preparedness, and timely intervention when people find themselves suddenly stranded far from help.