Lewis County snowmobiler located after search

OSCEOLA — The search for a missing snowmobiler ended successfully about 11 p.m. Monday when Joy Swiecki, 63, Georgia, was located nearly 10 hours after she went missing.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Department said it responded to a call from Mrs. Swiecki’s husband, David Swiecki, when she did not return after six hours from an unaccompanied snowmobile ride from Timberview Lodge, Turin, to the Osceola area.

Mrs. Swiecki was traveling on the railroad bed when she missed a turn, causing her to leave the trail area. Her snowmobile became stuck, and she was unable to free it. She attempted to call 911 but could not find a signal to complete the call.

She had walked for almost eight hours when sheriff’s deputies located her on Camp Four Road with the use of snowmobiles and the emergency management tracking vehicle, an enclosed, heated Polaris Ranger utility vehicle.

Mrs. Swiecki required no medical attention and was found “in good spirits,” Mr. Martin said.