A Florida couple who recently moved to Durango required rescue this week after becoming stuck while attempting to cross the Animas River in Silverton.
San Juan County Sheriff Bruce Conrad said the couple had observed Jeeps and other vehicles cross the waterway at a crossing spot on the north end of town.
The couple then attempted to cross the river in an Acura MDX, a mid-size SUV, and became stuck in the middle of the river.
The couple got out of the car with their two small dogs and went to the east side of the river, which has no road access, which made contact with search and rescue personnel more difficult, Conrad said.
The nearest contact point was at the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area, but the couple didn’t feel comfortable walking over the wetlands to get there.
“They felt like they couldn’t get there,” Conrad said.
San Juan County Search and Rescue personnel hiked in to make contact with the couple, and then walked them to the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area where they went into an ambulance to warm up.
“They were pretty cold and wet,” Conrad said.
Conrad said the couple didn’t suffer any serious injuries, and the car was eventually towed out of the river.
“They were totally out of their element,” he said.
jromeo@durangoherald.com