RBC I A 911 call to the Rio Blanco County Communications Center in Meeker reported an injured horseback rider in a remote area of eastern Rio Blanco County, east of Ripple Creek Pass and south of but between Baldy Mountain and Pyramid Peak.
The caller reported that when he noticed his friend, who was behind him on the trail, had dropped back and did not catch up, the caller rode back down the trail and found his friend, Dwight Michael Warak, 66, of Craig, lying motionless on the trail. Warak was reportedly non-responsive and not breathing.
Search and rescue members and sheriff’s office deputies responded to the Pyramid Trail Head, 52 miles east of Meeker near Baldy Mountain to recover the victim.
The rider was five miles down the trail, which was only accessible by horseback, on foot or by helicopter.
Due to the remote location and the response time down the trail to the victim, Classic Lifeguard helicopter from Vernal, Utah, was called and they responded to the trail head.
After picking up RBCSO personnel, Classic Lifeguard flew to the victim’s location and his body was recovered, then turned over to the Rio Blanco County Coroner’s Office.
An autopsy was performed, and, according to Rio Blanco County Coroner Dr. Albert Krueger, the autopsy determined the cause of death was a massive heart attack.
