Homeless Woman Rescued After 3 Days Trapped in Car (Update)

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ACCOKEEK, MD — A woman living in her car was trapped for three days in the vehicle – and kept warm only with a blanket when the gas ran out – after the car was buried in snow.

The car was parked on an impassable side street, requiring the Maryland National Guard to bust through the drifts and take the victim to a hospital Monday.

“It was located on a side street that hadn’t been plowed, so the Humvee was able to get to the vehicle and the soldiers were about to get her out,” Maryland National Guard Major Luis Gurri told WJLA.

»Watch the WJLA video of the rescue here.

About 6 p.m. Monday, a resident in the 16400 block of Newasa Lane in Accokeek called authorities, worried that someone was inside the car, which was buried under the two-foot snowfall on the street near his residence.

Prince George’s County firefighter/medics units from Accokeek were unable to reach the car because of the deep snow on the unplowed street. A Humvee from the Maryland Army National Guard 110th assigned to work with firefighter/medics from the nearby Allentown Road Fire/EMS Station reported to the scene.

The military vehicle pushed through the deep snow on Newasa Lane to reach the vehicle. Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady said the woman had parked her car in front of property she owns, although she appeared to be living in the vehicle.

Guard members and county medics persuaded the patient, who was reluctant to leave her car, to go to the hospital.

She was loaded into the rear of the Humvee and taken to an ambulance waiting on a plowed street. Brady said the woman was treated for hypothermia and taken to a nearby hospital.

“This is just one great example of the work performed by the Maryland Army National Guard during this winter event,” Brady said. “Their vehicle capabilities and training have served the citizens of Prince George’s County very well.”

The storm and its 20 inches of snow may have caused two deaths: a man who died after shoveling snow and a man whose body was found by snow-plow crews behind a Dumpster.

The Prince George’s County Police Department says George Campbell, 60, collapsed after shoveling snow at his home in Fort Washington. Rescue crews were called to his residence in the 1200 block of Sandy Bar Drive about 9 a.m. Saturday.

In the second death, a snow-removal crew called police about 8 a.m. Monday when they found a man’s body in the snow-filled parking lot of Save A Lot Grocery Store.

Snowstorm Recovery Tuesday

Residential streets are being plowed across Prince George’s County, officials said Tuesday, with the goal of all streets being deemed passable by Wedesday. That doesn’t mean the streets are free of snow, but that a car could safely drive on them.

A glitch with county’s online plow tracking system continues to frustrate some area residents; residents are urged to use the now-functioning online form to request plowing rather than calling. And cars must be off streets before plows will go down them, so keep shoveling.

In Bowie, the city government will open on time Tuesday, with a liberal leave policy in effect for employees. No trash or recyling pickup.

All Prince George’s County Public Schools are closed Tuesday.

The Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation released these updates regarding snow removal and transportation services:

Snow Removal Update:

Primary roadways are about 95% passable. Passable means conditions which would allow a passenger vehicle to navigate the travel path using reasonable care.

Plows are moving into residential areas as resources allow; it is estimated 40% of our residential roads are passable.

Abandoned vehicles are causing issues for plows to safely clear the roads. Any car impeding a plow is susceptible to being towed.

Operators are plowing by route and area; to the maximum extent possible, we are attempting not to pull them from their designated areas.

Snow Removal Requests/311:

The Prince George’s County 3-1-1 call center has been overwhelmed with snow requests from residents seeking service. Over the last two days the center has handled over 5,000 calls – the most ever received since the system was created in 2012.

In order to avoid long wait times, residents should submit their snow removal request online versus calling 3-1-1.

To submit an online request go tohttp://countyclick.princegeorgescountymd.gov/ and click on “Submit Request for Snow Removal” at the top of page.

3-1-1 is only available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., after hours residents can call the Snow Information Center at 301-350-0500. However, officials urge all residents to submit requests online to avoid extended wait times.

Snow Plowing and Roads:

Residents are asked to park on the even-numbered sides of residential streets or in their driveways so that crews can clear the roadways.

Crews started plowing operations in residential neighborhoods Sunday night, and will continue. Residential streets are plowed as passable, which creates one lane that a vehicle can travel if it is a two lane road; one lane in each direction if it is a four lane road. All residential roads should be passable sometime Wednesday.

Residents are reminded that abandoned vehicles must be removed from the roadways before streets can be plowed.

Driveways and mailboxes will have snow in front of them as a result of the plowing operation.

Residents should shovel their driveways after plowing has occurred and remove snow/ice from the sidewalks abutting their homes and businesses.

TheBus:

TheBus will have limited service Tuesday, January 26. For updates contact www.NextBus.com or (301) 324-2877.

We will be providing Paratransit transportation for scheduled dialysis appointments.

Snow Plow Tracking:

The plow tracking map is still not unavailable. As an alternative, The Department of Public Works and Transportation says residents can visit http://www.pgctrip.com/ to view county traffic cameras and updated information.

9-1-1 for Emergencies Only:

We have also had reports that residents are calling 9-1-1 for snow removal. 9-1-1 is for emergency use only, residents should not call 9-1-1 for non-emergency issues.

»Screenshot of snow rescue from WJLA