antiquity
02-09-2003, 01:50 AM
Stranded disabled driver dies
02/08/03
ONTARIO -- A paraplegic California driver may have died of exposure after getting his car stuck on a little-used road in the high desert of southeastern Oregon.
Hunters found the body of John Kloppenburg, 31, of Placerville late Thursday in his car, which had become high-centered on a primitive road about 25 miles northwest of Harper, Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said. Kloppenburg's wheelchair was in the back of the car, he said.
"It was in a very remote area" about 15 miles from the nearest ranch, at about 4,000 feet elevation, Bentz said. "We don't know why he was there."
Kloppenburg's death probably "was due to weather conditions and lack of food and water," Bentz said.
Kloppenburg was last seen Jan. 28 in Nampa, Idaho, while en route to Grants Pass to visit relatives, the sheriff said. Family members reported him missing two days later and had been searching the main routes between Nampa and Grants Pass for him, Bentz said. -- Richard Cockle
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1044709381247310.xml
02/08/03
ONTARIO -- A paraplegic California driver may have died of exposure after getting his car stuck on a little-used road in the high desert of southeastern Oregon.
Hunters found the body of John Kloppenburg, 31, of Placerville late Thursday in his car, which had become high-centered on a primitive road about 25 miles northwest of Harper, Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said. Kloppenburg's wheelchair was in the back of the car, he said.
"It was in a very remote area" about 15 miles from the nearest ranch, at about 4,000 feet elevation, Bentz said. "We don't know why he was there."
Kloppenburg's death probably "was due to weather conditions and lack of food and water," Bentz said.
Kloppenburg was last seen Jan. 28 in Nampa, Idaho, while en route to Grants Pass to visit relatives, the sheriff said. Family members reported him missing two days later and had been searching the main routes between Nampa and Grants Pass for him, Bentz said. -- Richard Cockle
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1044709381247310.xml