ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Three individuals including an 11-year-old girl had to be rescued Saturday morning after getting lost on the Eternal Flame Trail at Chestnut Ridge Park, according to the Erie County Sheriff's Office (ECSO).
Deputies tell 2 On Your Side they got a call from a 19-year-old man from Orchard Park around 3:30 a.m. on October 26.
The man reportedly said his group had been lost on the trail for four hours and told dispatchers his phone was only at 2% battery. The other members of the group didn't have phones on them.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the phone then died in the middle of the call but deputies were able to use a relatively new tool called RapidSOS to locate the group.
"Essentially what that does is it notifies us through their cell phone their latitude and longitude. Once we get their latitude and longitude, it's implemented into the rapid SOS software and it gives us a pinpoint on a screen or a map as to where they are," Lt. Jeremy Lehning told 2 On Your Side back in January.
The ECSO has been using the RapidSOS system for about two years.
Thanks to the system, deputies were able to find the group and help them find their way out without any injuries.
“The teamwork demonstrated by our dispatch and patrol units this morning was exemplary,” said Sheriff Garcia.
“With time a factor, they worked quickly, efficiently, and diligently to assist these three individuals.”
In addition to the 19-year-old man from Orchard Park, an 11-year-old girl from Cheektowaga and a 28-year-old woman from Buffalo were also rescued.
According to a spokesperson for the Erie County Sheriff's Office, the group claimed that they were unaware the park was closed.