Volunteer rescuers save dozens after drivers flee I-15 traffic jam into desert
A fatal crash on Interstate 15 south of Mesquite Thursday morning created a chain reaction that left more than a dozen vehicles stranded in the Nevada desert, prompting a massive volunteer rescue effort that lasted nine hours.
Fatal crash triggers dangerous exodus
The incident began around 6:45 a.m. Thursday when a commercial semi-truck and a sedan collided on southbound I-15 approximately 11 miles south of Mesquite. One passenger in the sedan died at the scene, while another was airlifted to the hospital with unknown injuries.
With all southbound lanes closed and traffic backing up for miles, frustrated drivers made the dangerous decision to leave the highway and attempt to bypass the congestion by driving through the desert terrain. This decision quickly turned into a crisis as vehicles became stuck in the soft sand and rough terrain.
Emergency calls flood volunteer rescue group
Southern Nevada Off-Road Recovery (SNORR), a Las Vegas-based nonprofit organization, was immediately flooded with distress calls from stranded motorists. The volunteer group, which consists of approximately 20 active members who perform over 500 recoveries annually, mobilized for what would become one of their most challenging operations.
“There was one lady that was stuck out there that had a one-year-old with her, that was out of water, that had been out of water for several hours,” said SNORR’s Anthony Duran Peterson, who spent approximately nine hours on scene. “We made that a priority to make sure we got to her first because of the infant.”
The urgency of the situation was evident as calls poured in from across the country. SNORR president Jacob Schmidt, working dispatch, received frantic pleas for help from worried family members.
“I had one gentleman call in from Colorado to say his wife was stuck up there for more than six hours,” Schmidt recalled. “He was very distraught and wanting us to do something.”
GPS navigation leads drivers astray
According to SNORR’s Social Director Ryan Scarberry, many drivers fell victim to their GPS navigation systems, which attempted to reroute them around the traffic jam through unpaved desert roads.
“A lot of people are just going to go ahead and follow Google, and as soon as they touch into dirt, that’s danger zone,” Scarberry explained. He emphasized that even all-wheel drive vehicles can quickly become trapped in Nevada’s desert terrain, which features soft sand, hidden rocks, and deceptive washes.
Free service saves lives and vehicles
Founded in 2017, SNORR operates entirely on donations and never charges for their recovery services. The organization has already received more than 280 calls for assistance in 2025 alone, providing help within a four-hour radius of Las Vegas and sometimes crossing state lines into California, Arizona, and Utah.
The volunteer organization fills a crucial gap in emergency services, as traditional tow truck companies often refuse off-road recoveries or charge exorbitant fees. SNORR’s volunteers use their own high-clearance 4WD vehicles and specialized recovery equipment to extract stuck vehicles from situations ranging from simple sand traps to complex high-angle technical recoveries.
Hard-learned lessons for desert travelers
Thursday’s mass stranding serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of venturing off paved roads, especially during emergencies. Peterson offered crucial advice for drivers who might face similar situations:
“When you start going off road, and things just don’t seem right to you—stop and turn around, and go back,” he said.
Scarberry added that patience, while frustrating during traffic delays, is ultimately the safer choice: “Even if frustrated with traffic, it’s best to stay in your lane and wait with patience. It will benefit you in the long run.”
Growing need for rescue services
SNORR’s heroic efforts Thursday highlight the increasing need for volunteer rescue services as more people explore Nevada’s vast desert landscapes. The organization, which has grown to over 60 active members since its founding, also provides regular training classes on recovery fundamentals, having trained over 200 off-road enthusiasts in the past year.
For those traveling Nevada’s highways, Thursday’s incident serves as a cautionary tale: When faced with traffic delays, the safest path forward is often simply to wait it out rather than risk becoming another rescue statistic in the unforgiving desert terrain.
Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/over-dozen-vehicles-recovered-off-033317577.html
Category: Breaking News
Subcategory: Emergency Services
Date: 08/04/2025
