First responder recounts harrowing rescue of 8-year-old girl in El Paso County snowstorm
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - On Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, an 8-year-old girl was separated from her family after they got stuck in the middle of the road during a snowstorm.
KRDO13 spoke with the Ellicott Fire Protection District Division Chief, who was called to assist a family with their stuck car. When they found out the young girl had gone missing, the focus immediately shifted to a search and rescue operation.
Highway 24 was shut down in eastern El Paso County due to treacherous conditions. The family's car got stuck even further east in the Calhan, Ellicott area at the intersection of Soap Weed Rd and Mid Jones Rd. First responders say the family's car got stuck around 10:30 p.m.
"They were trying to get home," shared, Ellicott Fire Protection District Division Chief, Norma Houghton.
But at that point, the snow and wind had picked up creating 3 to 5 feet drifts.
"It was blizzard-like conditions, visibility was slim to none. So it was super hard, and the drifts were hard to walk through. I was just praying that she was okay while trying to search and find her," said Houghton.
Search and Rescue brought snowcats to the desolate area to assist crews in looking for the 8-year-old throughout the night. After a seven-hour-long search with help from 8 different agencies, she was found safe and alive.
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"A weight lifted off my chest. It was an awesome feeling," recounted Houghton, "when that call came over the radio. we were all grateful thanking everybody."
Even after it was all said and done around 7 a.m., and the family was reunited, those same first responders went back out for more calls. Originally, it was believed she was found around 5 a.m., but a call sequence revealed she was found closer to 7 a.m.
"Most people would think we're crazy, but we're kind of used to going from call to call, sleepless nights, and just know that there has to be somebody there to help people. So that's where we are, and that's what we're there to do," said Houghton.
The 8-year-old girl did have injuries from being out in the snow but she was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
