Recovered/Located NV - Ronnie (found deceased) & Beverly Barker (taken for med care), RV trip, Stagecoach, 27 Mar 2022

[Kecharaeq2]

I think that is true of many situations in life, we're familiar with people having car accidents, getting lost, falling off high places...those situations are familiar, simple lapses in judgement, people know how they happen and how to prevent them, so they aren't a topic of much discussion.

Whereas, IMO, this situation is almost unprecedented, at least not since the earliest days of GPS, I think it's a natural use of human intelligence and a mechanism for suvival to analyse such a situation to try to understand how it could have happened and how such things could be prevented.
(I prefer to focus on prevention than what should be done to save other people who do the same thing...I hope it doesn't become a trend).

We don't say, "Let's not talk about preventing Covid because it's hurtful to the people who caught it and died from it".

JMO

I believe it’s important to look at reasons and causes. Reminders of the situation and ideas of how to keep it from happening again are important.
That said, I think it should be done in a respectful way. There’s a big difference between examining the situation and victim blaming. I think it’s important to write as if Beverly or one of their family members may one day read it and treat the topic with sensitivity.

 

[wary]

I believe it’s important to look at reasons and causes. Reminders of the situation and ideas of how to keep it from happening again are important.
That said, I think it should be done in a respectful way. There’s a big difference between examining the situation and victim blaming. I think it’s important to write as if Beverly or one of their family members may one day read it and treat the topic with sensitivity.

We can look at the 20-minute interview with the nephew. He certainly spoke gently and lovingly of them, while still discussing mistakes that they made.

They were from Indianapolis—what experience with the Western deserts had they had before?

I think that the elevation could have been harmful. I see that the highest elevation in Indiana is 1257 feet. From that interview with the nephew, they ended up at an elevation over 7000 feet. That poses a danger of altitude sickness, specially in people who are elderly and not in the best health. And being low on oxygen, I believe, might make it harder to think clearly, make plans, and that would not be their fault.

A general point might be that, however adventurous we are, if we travel into unfamiliar areas, we should try very hard to understand any risks that we might not be accustomed to. How much water do we really need; will there be cell phone coverage; how high are the mountains? Do I know how to drive in the snow; do deer really jump out in front of cars, or are those signs there just to entertain tourists? (adding a few issues that I’d be unfamiliar with.)

all this MOO

 

[EyeCandy]

I think they thought like most people. Driving through an area, not thinking about the worst that could happen. Most travelers I think are like that....we have followed GPS on our motorcycle before and got off on horrible backroads.

 

[Tealgrove]

No Judgement.

I have learned not to believe my GPS 100%.

When doing a long road trip I use my GPS in conjunction with handheld maps. I plan my route. I check everything. I look at trucking routes and do my research. I do not deviate.

I have hunkered down for the night ahead of schedule if I encounter an accident or bad weather. I contact friends and family to advise of the change. I am in constant contact and stick to main routes. No short cuts.

It’s just who I am.

GPS’s are not 100%

MOO

 

[coalminer]

does anyone still have the email address set-up for Ron & Beverly..???? for providing information perhaps not known to the family..... i have Jeeped those roads for many years.... 29 years... the RV was found by a mine i sold 12 years ago... i have information for thought for the family....

 

[Kecharaeq2]

does anyone still have the email address set-up for Ron & Beverly..???? for providing information perhaps not known to the family..... i have Jeeped those roads for many years.... 29 years... the RV was found by a mine i sold 12 years ago... i have information for thought for the family....

FindRonandBev@gmail.com

 

[JayLee#99]

We can look at the 20-minute interview with the nephew. He certainly spoke gently and lovingly of them, while still discussing mistakes that they made.

They were from Indianapolis—what experience with the Western deserts had they had before?

I think that the elevation could have been harmful. I see that the highest elevation in Indiana is 1257 feet. From that interview with the nephew, they ended up at an elevation over 7000 feet. That poses a danger of altitude sickness, specially in people who are elderly and not in the best health. And being low on oxygen, I believe, might make it harder to think clearly, make plans, and that would not be their fault.

A general point might be that, however adventurous we are, if we travel into unfamiliar areas, we should try very hard to understand any risks that we might not be accustomed to. How much water do we really need; will there be cell phone coverage; how high are the mountains? Do I know how to drive in the snow; do deer really jump out in front of cars, or are those signs there just to entertain tourists? (adding a few issues that I’d be unfamiliar with.)

all this MOO

Yes, the deer do really jump out in front of cars. Lol

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Yes, the deer do really jump out in front of cars. Lol

But, inconsiderately, they don't always make sure to do it right by the sign.

 

[Woodberry]

Yes, the deer do really jump out in front of cars. Lol

They also seem to prefer springing these antics on unsuspecting motorists at night.

 

[Unsolved]

I think that the elevation could have been harmful. I see that the highest elevation in Indiana is 1257 feet. From that interview with the nephew, they ended up at an elevation over 7000 feet. That poses a danger of altitude sickness, specially in people who are elderly and not in the best health. And being low on oxygen, I believe, might make it harder to think clearly, make plans, and that would not be their fault.

Adding this condition to your thoughts:

"His uncle had had part of his lung removed and could not get enough oxygen to survive in the high altitude where they were stranded, he said.

“My uncle Ronnie was a cancer survivor from exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, ” Peters said. “It seems apparent to me that Ronnie was struggling even that first day getting air to his lungs.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...7ad2fa-b6ce-11ec-8358-20aa16355fb4_story.html

 

[airportwoman]

I, too saw the 18-minute interview with the nephew. He obviously loved them very much.

I live in a medium-sized city, and several times, I have told people coming in to see me from OOT not to use GPS, because it will take them to the wrong neighborhood. They STILL use it, and guess what? They go to the wrong neighborhood!

 

[nannymo]

His diabetes could have played a significant part of his passing also.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Travis Peters, the nephew of Ronnie and Beverly Barker, said his uncle was dead for 26 hours before crews got to him.

"The hurdles we had to jump through to get the Silver Alert and to get people really organized, it is really difficult because I have no doubt that if action had been taken earlier, my uncle would still be with us today," Peters said.

The family filed the initial missing persons report March 29, but according to Peters, the search didn't start until four days later on April 2.

Families call for change in missing persons procedures | wthr.com

 

[WingsOverTX]

Travis Peters, the nephew of Ronnie and Beverly Barker, said his uncle was dead for 26 hours before crews got to him.

"The hurdles we had to jump through to get the Silver Alert and to get people really organized, it is really difficult because I have no doubt that if action had been taken earlier, my uncle would still be with us today," Peters said.

The family filed the initial missing persons report March 29, but according to Peters, the search didn't start until four days later on April 2.

Families call for change in missing persons procedures | wthr.com

Good followup but I'm not seeing any action items just complaints and confirmation about the delays and their results in this and another case.

Getting alerts and searches started is very location-dependent. With state, county & city jurisdictions sometimes overlapping in all areas of the country, it is going to be very, very difficult to solve the DELAY issues.

Each jurisdiction reacts differently and has its own protocols (or lack of them). That is unlikely to change.

It seems to me each state needs a dedicated SAR team that can look at resources where an incident or potential victim is located and coordinate the response so it can be more timely and hopefully more successful.

My perspective is just one. I'd like to know how others think response time and bureaucracy can be overcome in these emergency situations that are often complicated.

JMO

ETA: There was a delay in reporting the Barkers missing from their intended destination on 3/29. No one has ever explained that, have they? A better jurisdiction response would not change that.

 

[MimosaMornings]

His diabetes could have played a significant part of his passing also.

Weren’t both diabetic?
(Don’t know if insulin dependent)

I would have been frantic if it had been my parents.

 

[mickey2942]

"Death by GPS": Warnings about the devices - CBS News

This story is very similar. Sadly.

 

[Laughing]

"Death by GPS": Warnings about the devices - CBS News

This story is very similar. Sadly.

Women trust GPS, drive SUV into Mercer Slough

Woman Follows GPS, Drives Car Into Canada's Georgian Bay

Becoming sadly common IMHO.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[airportwoman]

Weren’t both diabetic?
(Don’t know if insulin dependent)

I would have been frantic if it had been my parents.

I think so, and I wonder if some kind of blood sugar anomaly, low or high, struck whoever was driving, and this affected their judgment.

 

[Lilibet]

I haven’t read every post so please forgive me if I’m being redundant. I finally looked at Google Earth and Google Maps using the coordinates their nephew posted for their location. I believe it was the text for help that finally came through as they were being rescued/recovered. Even if it was just the general location, I can’t begin to understand how they even got their motor home up there! Obviously they did, but it was a jeep trail! I realize Bev doesn’t owe the public an explanation, but I hope she explains how this happened if it helps someone else. Wishing her well during this awful time.

Here are the coordinates…
37.757753, -117.809568

And Google Maps. Google Maps

Since we know GPS is fallible, anyone traveling through remote parts of the west like NV, might want to invest in one of these devices. We never think we’ll need one…until we do.
How to Choose PLBs and Satellite Messengers

 

[lonetraveler]

I have driven a Diesel Pusher for many years alone, thus that is how I acquired the username, Lonetraveler. I may be considered 'old fashioned' but I have driven thousands of miles during my career and then alone with my RV and there is no way in hell I would ever use GPS exclusively. I always have a hard copy atlas of the areas I have traveled. And I would get local road maps as well. I admit I have more experience and years of traveling than regular people and tend to be a bit over cautious.