Hayden man rescued after SUV gets stuck – twice

MISSOULA – An Idaho man rescued last week after getting his sport utility vehicle stuck on Petty Mountain had to be rescued again earlier this week, along with a tow truck driver who was trying to help retrieve the stranded vehicle.

Roger Woodworth, 60, of Hayden, and another man were out for a drive on the mountain about 15 miles west of Missoula on Oct. 18 when the vehicle became stuck, Missoula County authorities said. They used a cell phone to call for help at about 8 p.m.

“He was basically trying to take this Ford Explorer on what is, at best, an ATV trail,” sheriff’s Detective Dave Brenner said Wednesday.

About 5 inches of snow fell that night, hampering rescue efforts. The men were found early Friday afternoon, uninjured.

Then on Monday, Woodworth hired Sparr’s Towing & Automotive to retrieve the SUV from the Forest Service road.

Company owner Bill Sparr said the tow truck driver had the SUV free and moved to a spot where they were going to put chains on the tires when the tow truck broke down.

The men called search and rescue. Officials said it took several hours to get them off the mountain, but no one was injured. On Wednesday, another tow truck went up the mountain to retrieve the two vehicles, Sparr said.

“They’re on their way back down now,” he said.

When asked how much Woodworth’s bill might be, Sparr said that had yet to be determined.

“It’ll be quite healthy,” he said.