Nearly two dozen cars left stranded after GPS sent them down rocky road in severe weather as drivers tried to swerve jam

The stranded drivers added hours to their trips after trying to avoid traffic

DRIVERS were left stranded on a snowy road after GPS led them down a dangerous path in terrifying weather.

Cops found 20 cars stuck in the snow after being alerted to an iPhone’s satellite SOS call.

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The Union County Public Works sent a road grader to plow a path for the trapped driversCredit: Facebook/UnionCoSAR

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A few of the cars stranded on Ruckle Road last WednesdayCredit: Facebook/UnionCoSAR

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Cars stuck in the snow after following their GPSCredit: Facebook/UnionCoSAR
Search and rescue teams went out looking for a trapped car in Union County, Oregon, about 270 miles east of Portland, after receiving an alert last Wednesday.

Officials knew the vehicle was stuck on a tricky road.

“Ruckle Road is a rough and steep gravel road near Summerville in Union County, and it is not maintained for winter travel,” Union County Search and Rescue said in a Facebook post.

Cops first believed it was just one trapped car – but then they received a flood of SOS calls from the same area while they were on their way.

iPhone users can send Emergency SOS messages via satellite to emergency services when they go off the grid and get stuck without Wi-Fi or cellular data.

When they arrived at the snowy scene, first responders found about 20 vehicles stuck or stranded on the road.

They learned all of the vehicles had gone down the treacherous path following GPS directions in an attempt to avoid traffic jams on the interstate.

Instead, the supposed shortcut led them to get stuck.

SAR called for backup, which consisted of the county’s Public Works arriving with a road grader to plow an escape path.

After several hours, the vehicles became unstuck and could get back to the main road.

“This incident serves as an important reminder of the need to carefully evaluate, and often not follow, GPS-provided directions, especially in winter months,” Union County SAR said.

“The interstate and highways are the best routes through our region during winter conditions, and if they are closed due to weather, or weather-related crashes, it is almost certainly ill-advised and very dangerous to attempt alternate travel routes.”

The agency said without the help of the road grader, drivers would’ve been forced to abandon their cars.

Pictures of the incident show cars trapped in snow banks and left with their lights on by the side of the road.

No one was injured and all cars returned to the road after the mishap.

Facebook users shared warnings about taking lesser known roads during severe weather in the comments of Union County SAR’s Facebook post.

“Good lord!! Ppl use common sense and just don’t use alternate routes when the interstate/highways are closed,” one said.

“You are not only putting yourself at risk but you’re also putting our Search and Rescue crews at risk!!”

Another wrote, “Every year! If you dont know our roads, dont travel them. Just be patient and wait for the freeways/highways to open back up!”

‘THINK BEFORE YOU DRIVE’

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management also shared a message advising, “Reroutes aren’t always safe – think before you drive!”

“During storms, Google Maps and GPS systems can lead you into dangerous situations, rerouting you through closed roads, snowy mountain passes, or unsafe forest backroads,” ODEM said.

“They don’t always account for weather conditions or road closures.

“When you choose to ignore warnings or take risky detours, you’re not just putting your own life at risk – you could be endangering first responders who may have to come rescue you.”

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The cars stranded in Union County, OregonCredit: Facebook/UnionCoSAR