Woman Found In Snow, Suffering From Hypothermia
HANOVER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A Washington County woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being discovered unconscious in the snow in a heavily-wooded area behind her home.
State police say 58-year-old Rebecca Thompson was taken to Weirton Medical Center after being located Wednesday evening in an area off of Clinton Frankfort Drive in Hanover Township.
According to authorities, Thompson's family members were the ones who alerted state police that she had gone missing.
Officials report that state police troopers discovered Thompson after finding some tracks about three-quarters of a mile away into the woods behind her home.
She had been there between six to eight hours and was both unconscious and suffering from hypothermia.
"She was not responding to them at all," said Trooper Robin Mungo, of the state police. "She was breathing; she had a pulse, but the troopers were trying their best to hurry up and get her out of there and get her the medical attention that she needed."
State police say Thompson had to be carried to safety because the heavily-wooded area made using vehicles impossible. Officials say the troopers who found her, Trooper Vincent White III and Trooper Gregory Brown, used a rescue blanket as a makeshift stretcher.
"They were determined to find her," added Trooper Mungo. "They wanted to make sure that they had exhausted all avenues."
At last report, Thompson was listed in critical condition. However, she is reportedly improving. How she ended up in the woods remains unknown at this time.
