Missing AFA professor found stranded and injured, but alive

A Black Hawk helicopter and a hoist were used to rescue an Air Force Academy professor who went missing near Salida.

Lt. Col. David Richie, 43, was found stranded on a cliff and injured on Tuesday afternoon (6/30/15).

Richie’s car was found Tuesday at the Jennings Creek Trailhead off of North Fork Road near Mount Shavano in Chaffee County. That discovery helped narrow the search and ultimately led to him being found.

Richie was taken to Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida to be treated for a leg injury.

Before he was found, Richie had last been seen on Saturday in Colorado Springs, where he bought a trail map for the Salida and St. Elmo region. His iPhone last provided location information at around 11:45 p.m. Sunday from a cell tower near Salida.

The Academy says Richie was expected to participate in a separate academic department hike on Monday , but did not show. He had not been in contact with his family or the Academy since Saturday evening.

The academy said Richie is an experienced hiker of 14ers.