One Dead on the 402 snow squal, he left his car.

[HOF]

Daniela Germano
Staff Reporter
The storm that closed Hwy. 402 in southwestern Ontario this week claimed the life of at least one person.

The body of a 41-year-old man was found in a field near Ridgetown, only 50 metres away from his car, which was stuck in the snow.

“The car unexpectedly went off the roadway,” said Sgt. Jim Lynds of the Chatham-Kent Police Service.

It is still unknown why the motorist left his vehicle, he added.

An autopsy was conducted on Wednesday and “it is our belief that exposure to the extreme cold conditions caused the death,” said Sgt. Lynds.

The identity of the victim is not being released at the request of family, he said.

In Lambton County a state of emergency was declared Monday, with more than 300 vehicles stranded in the bitter cold and mounting snow.

Hwy. 402 between London and the Bluewater Bridge opened at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday after motorists were left stranded for about two days.

Military choppers were brought in to assist in the rescue of the trapped frozen vehicles

 

[nottyboi]

I wonder how this guy died? Must have had a heart attack or something... if not why would he not just get back to his car and use the heater?

 

[HOF]

He died of exposure! The article doesn't say much about his vehicle; he may have hit his head, had a concussion, attempted to get to the road for help, sat down/fell down and that's it. His name was released late this evening.

 

[Moraff]

If he left his car during the squall and/or at night he may not have been able to find his way back to the car.

 

[blackrock13]

I wonder how this guy died? Must have had a heart attack or something... if not why would he not just get back to his car and use the heater?

Hypothermia. In blowing snow storm conditions, NEVER leave your car/shelter. The energy you expend slogging it through the wind and snow will far exceed what you spend sitting and waiting. You won't get far. I'm not sure he was on the main thoroughfare, so rescue may have taken longer than the others, but someone would notice he was gone soon enough.

 

[danmand]

Never leave your car. They recommend a candle to keep warm, I wonder if a bottle of scotch would not do the job more enjoyably.

 

[fuji]

Alcohol makes you feel warmer, but actually reduces your ability to resist hypothermia. In any situation where you might ACTUALLY freeze to death, alcohol's a bad idea. If it's just a matter of getting through an uncomfortable night, where there's no real risk to life, maybe knock a few back.

 

[onthebottom]

This is crazy, how long were people stuck in their cars?

OTB

 

[Malibook]

He made it to someone's house, made a phone call, borrowed a pair of snow pants, and then decided to walk to work 250 metres away.
That's why it seems really strange to me for him to be found dead 50 metres from his car.


When his own car got stuck Monday evening, in a snowdrift along the Golf Course Line, Mr. Rumble made his way to nearby farmhouse to call to his parents and borrow a pair of snowpants. He told his mother his car was stuck, but that he would walk the rest of the way to work – about 250 metres – and he ventured back into the night.

Found just 50 metres from his car and in the opposite direction from the workplace he had set out to reach, Mr. Rumble, 41, was simply swallowed by the squalls, unable to navigate the swirling chaos.

“We believe he became confused and disoriented,” Insp. Flikweert said. “It was dark, it was snowing, it was blowing, it was very cold and we believe he succumbed to hypothermia.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...found-dead-near-snowbound-car/article1840612/

 

[blackrock13]

Alcohol makes you feel warmer, but actually reduces your ability to resist hypothermia. In any situation where you might ACTUALLY freeze to death, alcohol's a bad idea. If it's just a matter of getting through an uncomfortable night, where there's no real risk to life, maybe knock a few back.

Alcohol doesn't help at all. You don't realize/feel that you're getting cold and then do something about it. it initially acts as a stimulant, but then it's sedative factors take hold.

 

[blackrock13]

He made it to someone's house, made a phone call, borrowed a pair of snow pants, and then decided to walk to work 250 metres away.
That's why it seems really strange to me for him to be found dead 50 metres from his car.


When his own car got stuck Monday evening, in a snowdrift along the Golf Course Line, Mr. Rumble made his way to nearby farmhouse to call to his parents and borrow a pair of snowpants. He told his mother his car was stuck, but that he would walk the rest of the way to work – about 250 metres – and he ventured back into the night.

Found just 50 metres from his car and in the opposite direction from the workplace he had set out to reach, Mr. Rumble, 41, was simply swallowed by the squalls, unable to navigate the swirling chaos.

“We believe he became confused and disoriented,” Insp. Flikweert said. “It was dark, it was snowing, it was blowing, it was very cold and we believe he succumbed to hypothermia.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...found-dead-near-snowbound-car/article1840612/

Perhaps he returned to his car to retrieve something for work or make sure it was locked, then set out for work.

 

[danmand]

Alcohol makes you feel warmer, but actually reduces your ability to resist hypothermia. In any situation where you might ACTUALLY freeze to death, alcohol's a bad idea. If it's just a matter of getting through an uncomfortable night, where there's no real risk to life, maybe knock a few back.

If you have to sit all night and half of the next day and stare at a candle in a car with frozen windows, I think a few drinks would be welcomed. And if yiou run out of candles, you can burn the whiskey.

 

[HOF]

He made it to someone's house, made a phone call, borrowed a pair of snow pants, and then decided to walk to work 250 metres away.
That's why it seems really strange to me for him to be found dead 50 metres from his car.


When his own car got stuck Monday evening, in a snowdrift along the Golf Course Line, Mr. Rumble made his way to nearby farmhouse to call to his parents and borrow a pair of snowpants. He told his mother his car was stuck, but that he would walk the rest of the way to work – about 250 metres – and he ventured back into the night.

Found just 50 metres from his car and in the opposite direction from the workplace he had set out to reach, Mr. Rumble, 41, was simply swallowed by the squalls, unable to navigate the swirling chaos.

“We believe he became confused and disoriented,” Insp. Flikweert said. “It was dark, it was snowing, it was blowing, it was very cold and we believe he succumbed to hypothermia.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...found-dead-near-snowbound-car/article1840612/

No shit!

It could have been avoided if had stayed at the house.

 

[Malibook]

Perhaps he returned to his car to retrieve something for work or make sure it was locked, then set out for work.

In any case it still seems very odd to me plus he was found in the opposite direction to his work.
I don't know how far the house was from his car but he must have had no concern about easily making it back to his car and/or his work or he would have stayed put.

 

[fmahovalich]

Accidents happen!!!

And a single candle will do ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING in a vehicle! NADDA!!

 

[nottyboi]

Maybe he too Danmad's advice and drank way too much scotch!! lol... in either case ...poor bugger. Sad to go that way.

 

[Cassini]

People have strokes, become confused, and wander off. Hypothermia can also cause similar effects.

If you are in heavy snow (which we rarely have), a good survival strategy is simply to dig in. Snow is quite warm. It is the wind that is the killer. Just make sure you dig in away from the edge of the road, so a snow plow doesn't kill you.

Also, it is important to know what it feels like to get hypothermia. That way, you dig in early, before you start wandering around dazed, and get frostbite.

 

[danmand]

People have strokes, become confused, and wander off. Hypothermia can also cause similar effects.

If you are in heavy snow (which we rarely have), a good survival strategy is simply to dig in. Snow is quite warm. It is the wind that is the killer. Just make sure you dig in away from the edge of the road, so a snow plow doesn't kill you.

Also, it is important to know what it feels like to get hypothermia. That way, you dig in early, before you start wandering around dazed, and get frostbite.

I believe that last year, a women was found in a fairly populated area not far from where I live, within 100 meters of several houses. I assume people get disoriented in the swirling snow.

 

[blackrock13]

Accidents happen!!!

And a single candle will do ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING in a vehicle! NADDA!!

A candle can gives off just under a 100 BTU, compared to a 100 watt bulb at ~350 BTU (look up easy bake ovens) or approximately the same as the average for the human body at 250-400 BTU. If not for body warmth, it can melt snow in a cup for fluid intact. Don't consume snow. It take too much effort for the body to absorb it than the benefits you get from it.

 

[S.C. Joe]

It was fucken freezing outside, doesn't take long for it to get to you if you don't dress right. I agree he might had bump his head, maybe he was upset at himself for running off the road--I would be. Threw a fit and wasn't thinking clearly.

Too bad.

People got stuck cause they drive too freaky slow, in the past people would push and push until an accident happen. Now they get scared and call a love one on their phones and before long they just stop and watch the snow come down, lol

Yeah snow was blowing too but traffic should had kept crawling along--it did before cell phones came along. Now people don't think 100% on driving and have less of a will to see them not just talk.

Those tall posts on the edge of the highway tells you the shoulders, you just make one path in the middle and push your way on down the road...I remember doing that. I was taught in drivers ed you keep moving cause helps keeps the road clear of snow. Usually tire tracks last 30 seconds til another car comes along .

300 cars/trucks stuck, LOL welcome to GPS and smart phone world.