Rescuers find missing Bay Area man in Incline woods

A Bay Area man is carried out of the wilderness in Incline. Photo/Provided

A Bay Area man was found barefoot, dehydrated and suffering from exposure this week by Washoe County sheriff’s search and rescuers in Incline Village.

At approximately 7:30am Oct. 5 deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle abandoned on a dirt fire road off Allison Drive in Incline Village. Deputies found evidence that someone may have left the vehicle and wandered into the wilderness.

They determined the vehicle belonged to Ivan Cooper of San Leandro who had recently been reported missing by his daughter.

Searchers located Cooper in the forest about a half a mile from the vehicle lying in a bed of pine needles. They carried him from the woods and he was then transported to a local hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.

“I’m told that Mr. Cooper may not have survived the night given his condition,” Sheriff Chuck Allen said in a statement.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report