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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Family rescued from snowdrift

Blizzard trapped car in snow containing parents, 5-year-old

Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rescuers Wednesday pulled a Texas family from a car that had been buried in a snowdrift for nearly two days on a rural New Mexico highway.

State police said rescuers had to dig through 4 feet of ice and snow to free the Higgins family of Santa Fe, whose red Yukon got stuck on U.S. 56 near Springer when a blizzard moved through the area Monday.

Police said David and Yvonne Higgins and their 5-year-old daughter were clinging to each other and lethargic when they were found about 2:45 Wednesday morning. The family is recovering at Miners Colfax Medical Center in Raton.

State police said they got a distress call and launched a search for the family Tuesday evening.

The Higgins were among 32 vehicles state police and guardsmen rescued from the storm, but they were the only ones who police say needed medical attention.