Stafford County authorities, including a bloodhound and a drone, located a missing hiker early Saturday morning at the Civil War Park on Mount Hoppe Road.
Deputies responded to the park Saturday at 1:17 a.m. because of a report that a hiker became separated from a companion and was last seen at midnight. As temperatures dropped below freezing, deputies were informed the hiker wasn’t dressed for cold weather.
The 36-year-old hiker’s phone battery died, and a sheriff’s office bloodhound responded and attempted a track. The drone team was then activated, and Sgt. S.H. Curtis and Deputy M.A. Holub searched the park.
Drone pilots observed the missing hiker in the woods at 5:53 a.m. as they covered the last section of the park.
Maj. Shawn Kimmitz, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, thanked the deputies who participated in the search, particularly the drone pilots.
“Their work undoubtedly saved a life,” Kimmitz said.
